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HISTORICAL   SOUVENIR, 


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murZi^izis^niz 


SUPPI.BMBNT  TO  ISSUE  OF  AUGUST  4,  1904. 


DEXTER,   MAINE. 


IHE  EASTERN  GAZETTE 


Volume  43 


DEXTER,  MAINE 


Supplement 


The  Early  History  of  the  Town  of  Dexter 


By  HAIyCYON  CHASE 


Preamble. 

The  historian  who  sliall  lil'r  the  veil  eiishroiuiing: 
at  least  the  facts,  as  yet  iiii|>iil>lishe<l  cln-onoloficically, 
concerning  many  of  J)exter's  ancestors,  througli 
whose  indefatigable  efforts  the  Dexter  of  to-day  has 
been  made  possible,  will  have  accomplished  much 
in  the  interest  of  its  townspeople,  whose  ancestry 
were  enrolled  among  the  pioneer  settlers.  Certain 
it  is  that  no  stranger,  ever  so  researchful,  can  even 
hope  to  present  other  than  a  traditional  digest  of 
Dexter's  early  straggle  for  existence,  gleaned  as  the 
writer  has  done  from  a  few,  very  few,  of  such  ar- 
chives as  have  escaped  destruction,  and  from  the 
older  residents  whose  memories,  while  vividly  re- 
calling many  interesting  incidents,  are  wofully 
deficient  as  to  dates,  generally  culminating  in 
"thinks."  Among  those  to  whom  tlie  writer  is 
indebted  for  such  material  as  is  interwoven  in  the 
necessarily  brief  resume  of  the  town  contained  in 
this  brochure,  are  Hon.  Josiah  Crosljy,  ("yrus  Foss, 
<.'apt.  Samuel  Winslow.  Allen  llerrill.  Lawyer  T.  H. 
B.  Pierce,  and  Samuel  (dpeland. 

Dexter, 

as  everybody  knows,  who  has  ever  visited  the  town, 
or  in  passing  through  (ui  the  train  have  obtain- 
ed a  glimpse  thereof  from  the  summits  over  which 
traverses  the  iron  highway,  lies  in  a  favored  loca- 
tion, nestled  amid  mountainous  hills,  the  crests  of 
which  command  a  kaleidoscopic  view  of  surround- 
ing hill  and  dale,  superb  beyond  description,  their 
grassy  slopes  dotted  with  the  handsome  residences 
of  thrifty  Dexterites,  overlooking  the  populous  in- 
dustrial valley  Vjeneath. 

Sandwiched  as  it  were  between  the  Penobscot  and 
Kennebec  rivers,  connected  by  tortuous  streams 
that  outlet  from  numerous  ponds,  or  fed  from  gush- 
ing springs  that  stud  the  intervening  territory, 
while  cradled  mid  the  hills  within  the  western  bor- 
ders of  the  town,  is  a  beautiful  sheet  of  water  known 
as   Silver  pond,  ami    in   later  days  as  Wassookeag 


lake,  its  irregular  moss  fringed  shores,  embowered 
'neath  the  leafy  foliage  in  midsummer  of  the  hem- 
lock and  birch,  affording  excellent  opportunities  for 
the  erection  of  sunnner  homes,  already  taken  advan- 
tage of  by  a  few,  and  the  waters  of  which  outlet  in- 
to a  stream  meandering  through  the  town  with  a 
fall  of  142  feet  In  three-(iuarters  of  a  mile,  contribut- 
ing to  the  operative  maiiitainance  of  numerous  in- 
dustrial plants  lining  its  banks,  and  with  a  tri-daily 
passenger  service  by  rail,  and  e(iuall5'  as  excellent 
freight  accommodation,  to  and  from  the  principal 
commercial  centres,  Dexter  must  be  considered  in 
the  accounting  of  claims  for  ascendancy  as  a  manu- 
facturing centre,  or  for  residential  purposes. 

Prior  to  its  incorporation  as  a  town,  .June  17,  1816, 
the  six  square  miles  comprising  the  village  of  Dex- 
ter was  known  as  townshij)  4,  range  o,  and  in  com- 
mon witli  other  lands  within  the  province  of  Maine, 
l)elonging  to  the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts, 
was  surveyed,  and  the  plans  of  31  townships  sub- 
mitted to  the  Massachusetts  authorities,  by  Ephraim 
Ballard  and  John  Weston  of  Hallowell,  in  1702.  In 
1794.  James  Bridge,  a  noted  attorney  of  Augusta, 
contracted  for  the  pui-chase  of  township  4,  range  5, 
which  through  various  assignments  came  into  the 
possession  of  Andrew  Cragie  of  Caud^ridge,  Mass. 
In  1801  P.  Coffin  and  John  Reed  were  delegated  as 
agents  to  make  and  execute  conveyances  of  eastern 
lands,  through  whom,  by  authority  of  the  General 
(Jourt  of  Masaschusetts,  in  1804,  Amos  Bond  and 
seven  others  of  Watertown  and  Newton,  Mass.,  be- 
came the  proprietors,  upon  payment  of  #6,180.99, 
excepting  four  lots  of  335  acres  each,  reserved  re- 
spectively for  the  Hrst  settled  clergyman,  the  sup- 
port of  the  ministry,  a  school  lot  and  a  lot  for  dis- 
position by  the  General  Court,  jjrovided,  however, 
that  at  the  exi)irati()n  of  eight  years  forty  families 
should  l)ecome  settled  within  its  borders. 

:Early  Career.     Industrial. 


So  far  as  tradition, 
records  at  hand,  hoKlf 


supplemented  by  the  liuuted 
the  first  indivi(hials  to  locate 


_a  -n  .f-r> 


THE  EASTERN  GAZETTE 


in  tliH  town  wtre  Ebeiiee/.er  Sniiill  ami  .John  Tucker 
in  IHdO.  wild  wpi-e  g'uided  tliither  by  a  spotted  trail. 
Dexter  at  that  period  beiiif;  little  else  than  a  vast 
wilderness.  The  |)rimitive  cabin  of  the  forniei- 
occnpied  a  clearing  defined  liy  the  lot  whereon  at 
present  stands  the  law  Imildinf;-  of  (;rt)sby  &  Crosby 
on  Main  street.  Within  this  rude  home  of  the 
SnialPs  was  born  unto  them  a  daughter,  Feb.  4, 
1802,  and  christened  Johannah,  this  being  the  tiist 
birth  witliin  the  township. 

Following  these  two  pioneers  came  others,  includ- 
ing Sanuiel  ElUins  of  Cornville.  who  established  a 
clearing  near  the  outlet  t>f  Silver  pond,  or  what  is 
now  termed  Wassookeag  lake,  erected  a  cabin  there- 
on, and  from  the  surrounding  big  timber  hewed  out 
the  frame  for  a  saw  and  grist  mill,  which  when  coni- 
jjleted  and  put  in  operation  in  18(13,  constituted 
De.\ter's  inaugural  industry. 

The  townshij)  thereafter,  until  its  incorjioration 
in  181(),  was  known  as  Elkinstown.  A  few  years 
later  .Vndrew  Morse,  who  had  become  a  town  resi- 
dent, and  who  subsecpiently  became  sheritl'  of 
Penobscot  (Jounty,  erected  a  cai'ding  mill  upon  Mr. 
Elkins"  privilege,  this  being  followed  by  the  erection 
of  a  fulling  mill  on  what  is  now  known  as  Middle- 
sex place  by  J.  C  Hill.  This  mill  was  subsequently 
converted  into  a  shoe  factory  and  thence  into  a 
planing  nnll  by  (',  W.  Curtis,  who  acquired  its 
possession,  he  being  succeeded  by  the  Eldridge 
Brothers.  In  the  spring  of  1888  this  relic  of  l>y  gone 
days,  enlarged  and  improved  for  phiiiiiig  mill  ])iir- 
poses,  was  partially  destroyed  by  tire. 

In  1816,  James  Russell  built  a  tannerx  in  the  rear 
of  the  present  bank  block,  later  operated  by  Asa 
Merrill  and  Joshua  Parker,  and  some  years  later 
reconstructed  it  intoadwelling,  with  a  store  occupy- 
ing the  first  Hoor,  the  latter  at  divers  times  being 
occupied  by  Seth  Davis,  George  Chase  and  Ozam 
McCrillis.  Souieyeais  later  the  building  was  moved 
to  Main  street,  ad.joining  Wyman's  furnituie  house, 
and  was  subse<juently  l)urned. 

In  1817  came  Jonathan  Farrar  from  Hloomfield, 
now  Skowhegan,  where  he  had  been  in  trade,  and 
opened  a  general  store  in  what  is  now  known  as  the 
Flynt  liouse,  built  on  Bryant's  hill  in  1811,  and 
which  is  the  oldest  house  in  town.  With  the  advent 
of  Mr.  Farrar  Dexter,  which  had  l>een  incorporated 
the  year  previous,  assumed  a  new  lease  of  life  and 
prosperity.  Mr.  Farrar  being  young,  active,  and 
possessed  of  some  means,  soon  became  aggressively 
identified  with  the  town's  industrial  interests.  He 
purchased  the  Elkins  and  Morse  saw  and  carding 
nulls  with  all  the  water  and  other  privileges  per- 
taining thereto.  He  instituted  many  imi)rovements. 
and  in  1820  disjjosed  of  the  property  to  Jeremiah 
and  Amos  Abbott,  who  had  emigrated  thither  from 
Andover,  Mass.     Under  their  enterprising  manage- 


ment and  that  of  their  heirs  and  successors  has  de- 
veloped   the   present    Abbott    Woolen    Company's 
l)lant.      In  the   meantime,  in  1818,  Mr.   Farrar  had 
erected  a  grist  mill,  which  subseipiently  was  oper- 
ated by  James  Jumper,  Deacon  Wetlierljee  and  Levi 
Williams,  and  at  present  is  t>wned  and  operated  by 
S.  L.  Small,  though  the  present  stru<-ture  contains 
but  little  of   the  original  construction  timber,   the 
building  having  been  reconstructed  several  times. 
In  1828  Mr    Farrar  erected  the  tannery  on  Centre 
street,  now  a   part   of  the  Morrison  Woolen   Mills 
Conqiany's  plant,   the   tannery  being  operated    by 
Moses  Chase,   who  in  turn  was  succeeded   by  Eben 
Wyman,  and  later  l)y  the  Shaws—  (Miarles.  Fayette, 
and  Hrackley  of  Cunnuington,  Mass.,  and  still  later 
by  Charles  Shaw  &  Sons,  the  tannery  in  later  years 
becoming  the  property  of  its  creditors.     Later  John 
L.  Morrison  acquired   possession,  in   lilOl.     Shoitly 
after  the   building   of  the   tannery  Samuel  Baker 
erected  a  turning  mill  upon  the  oi)i)osite  side  of  the 
stream  from  the  tannery,  which  in  18:!!)  was  acquired 
by  Farrar  and   Lysander  Cutler,  the    latter   having 
in    1828   come    from   Massachusetts  an<l  joined   Mr, 
Farrar   in    his  enterprises.      Mr.    Knowles,    a   well- 
known    law>er,    then    built   a   mill  upon  the   same 
stream,  nearl>  opposite  the  present  brick  mill,  and 
not   far    fiom    the   saw   mill    jireviously    built     by 
Ebeneezer  Small.     Mr.   Knowles  leased  the  mill   to 
Samuel  Haker  who  used  it  as  a  saw  mill.     Later  it 
was  leased  to  Joseph  Shepherd  and  Hiram  Spooner, 
the  latter  subse((uently  accjuiring  a  mill  of  his  own 
at  Spooner's   Mills  village,  the  mill   at  pi'e.sent  being 
operated  by  his  sous.     The  Knowles  mill  was  later 
converted  into  a  box  mill  by  Reuben  Flanders,  who 
previous   thereto   had   carried   on    the  business   of 
cabinet  making  on  Main  street,  near  the  bend.     The 
box  nnll  was  destroyed  by  fire  shortly  after  the  war, 
though  it  had  lain  idle  for  some  time,  Mr.  Flanders 
having  removed  to  North  Dexter  where  he  operated 
a  luml)er   mill.     Meanwhile  Farrar  and  Cutler   con- 
verted the  Baker  turning  mill  into  a  machine  shop 
which    was    opei-ated    by   George    Fitzgerald    until 
1851,  when  he  removed  its  equipment  to  the  build- 
ing on  Main  street,  near  the  present  Dustin  block, 
previously   occupied   by   Wheeler  and   Bates  as  a 
shovel   factory.     Fitzgerald  was   succeeded   by  Na- 
thaniel   Dustin,    this   with    otlier    buildings    being 
swept  out  of  existence  by  the  fire  of  April  28,  188:!. 
In   the   late   thirties    Jeremiah   and    Amos   Abbott 
erected    a    grist    mill    upon    what    is    now    known 
as  Mill  street,  Sumner  Shaw  being  for  a  long  time 
miller  thereof,  and   soon  after  Obed    F'oss  built  a 
carding  null  across  tlie  street  therefrom,  which  was 
later  operated  l>y  Benjamin  F.  Durrell,  this  being 
followed    by   a   foundry,  built   by  the    Fletchers  of 
Skowhegan  near  the  carding  mill,   which  later  be- 
came the  property  of    Messrs.  Jewett,   Pennington 


thp:  ea.stkrx  gazette 


3 


ivncl  Poss,  and  operated  iiiidei-  the  title  of  (i.  Jewett 
&  Co.  Mr.  Foiss  retired  therofroiii  in  a  year  or  .so  to 
enter  business  for  himself,  the  foundry  sub.sequent- 
ly  beeominfj  the  property  of  X^athaniel  Dustin,  Mr. 
Jewett  goin^:  to  Aroostook.  In  1846  the  Alibott 
grist  mill  became  the  ]jroperty  of  Farrar  and  ( 'utier 
who  converted  it,  by  enlai'gement,  into  a  woolen 
factory,  since  known  as  the  white  mill,  the  Foss 
carding  mill  being  utilized  as  a  picker  house,  and 
since  its  ac(|uiremeiit  by  the  Morrisons  used  as  an 
office  and  storehouse. 

The  Woolen  Industry. 

The  manufacture  of  woolens,  the  chief  indus- 
trial mainstay  of  Dexter,  was  inaugurated  by  the 
Abbotts  —  Jeremiah  and  .\mos — in  1830,  the  busi- 
ness thus  established  by  them  still  continuing  to 
flourish.  In  1834  Farrar  and  Cutler  erected  a 
mill  upon  the  site  of  the  present  Dumbarton  mill, 
the  former  being  destroyed  by  tire  in  January, 
1844,  and  replaced  the  same  year  by  a  two  story 
stone  structure,  which  imi)arted  to  it  the  title  of 
the  stone  mill.  Two  years  or  so  later  Farrar  and 
Cutler  acijuired  the  grist  null  property  of  the 
Abbott  Brothers,  erected  some  ten  years  ijrevious, 
which  by  enlargement  and  remodeling  was  eon- 
verted  into  a  woolen  factory  subseiiuently  known  as 
the  white  mill.  In  1849  the  brick  mill,  now  the 
property  of  the  Wassookeag  Woolen  Mills  Co..  was 
built  by  Foss  and  Conant  and  ojjerated  by  .\.  E. 
Conant  &  Co.  In  18f)4  all  the  foregoing  |)ro])erties 
were  amalgamated  by  Farrar  and  Cutlei-.  Husiness 
reversals  enforced  a  transfer  of  these  properties  to 
Johnson  and  Sewall  of  Boston  in  1857.  the  Dale 
Brothers  being  the  i)ractical  executives  of  this  firm, 
who  leased  the  amalgamated  plant  to  Kichard  W. 
Robinson  who  continued  its  operation  until  October, 
1863,  when  Ebeneezer  Dale  and  his  associates  stepped 
in  and  reorganized  its  affairs  under  the  title  of  the 
Dexter  Woolen  Mills  ('omi)an\%  R.  W.  Robinson  be- 
ing made  president  tliereof.  In  1867  two  stories  of 
wood  were  added  to  the  stone  mill  and  other  im- 
provements instituted,  and  in  18811  I'arkman  Dexter 
and  A.  F.  Bi-adbury,  who  had  foi-  some  years  jjrior 
thei'eto  officiated  as  corporation  agent,  and  others 
assumed  the  management,  I.  G.  Wright  becoming 
president  and  R.  S.  Russell  treasurer,  the  title  re- 
maining intact.  In  1898,  these  amalgamated  proj)- 
erties  having  fallen  into  the  hands  of  its  bondhold- 
ers, became  disintegrated,  the  stone  mill  being 
leased  to  the  Penoljscot  Woolen  Co.  of  which  S.  S. 
Ireland  and  W.  H.  Abljott.  two  of  Dexter's  well- 
known  business  men,  were  president  and  ti'easurer, 
respectively.  In  1903  the  plant  became  the  property 
of  D.  R.  Campbell  &  Sons,  and  now  known  as  the 
Dumbarton  Woolen  Mills.  The  white  nnll  was  sold 
to   the    Morrison  Woolen  Mill   ('niiipany,  who  cciu- 


tinue  to  operate  it,  and  in  1899  D.  H.  Mudgett  and 
his  associates  of  the  Wassookeag  Woolen  Mills  Co. 
assumed  the  management  of  the  brick  mill,  con- 
trolled by  a  few  of  Dexter's  cai)italists  under  the 
title  of  the  Union  ("ompany. 

In  addition  to  the  foregoing  Calvin  Coijelaml,  in 
1847,  built  and  operated  a  woolen  mill  u|)on  the  site 
of  the  present  Fay  &  Scott  machine  sho])  and  whi<-h 
from  1860,  until  its  destruction  l)y  fire  in  1868,  was 
operated  at  first  by  Campbell  &  Lynn,  and  later  by 
D.  R.  Campbell  alone.  These  several  industrial  en- 
terprises, to  which  might  be  added  the  Fay  &  Scott 
machine  plant,  the  two  creameries,  Silver  Lake  and 
Enterprise,  and  the  canning  factories  of  the  Port- 
land Packing  Co.,  and  F.  H.  Hayes  of  Dexter,  which 
not  only  furnish  employment  to  numerous  hands 
during  the  canning  season  but  are  of  incalculable 
advantage  to  the  outlying  agricultural  comuninity, 
combined  with  rapidly  increasing  mercantile  inter- 
ests, has  brought  Dexter  to  the  fore  in  the  com- 
mercial world.  To  the  promoters  and  managers  of 
these  interests,  past  and  present,  is  to  be  accredited 
a  unanimity  of  spirit  in  enterprise  and  ])rogressive- 
ness  rarely  to  be  found  in  towns  of  like  size. 

Olla  Podrida. 

In  1803  the  townshij)  was  surveyed  into  lots  by 
Simeon  Safl'ord,  a  settler,  and  in  1807  counnunica- 
tion  with  (xarland  was  opened  by  i)Ost  road,  which 
in  1816  had  become  an  established  highway.  .\b(iut 
the  same  time  a  post  road  had  Ijeen  opened  between 
Bangor,  Dexter  and  Skowhegan,  which  subse- 
(piently  became  a  government  nuiil  route.  The  Mist 
post  office  was  estaljlished  in  1818,  the  mail  for  the 
following  ten  years  being  transported  by  post  riders, 
Lawrence  Green  being  the  first  to  perform  thi:^ 
arduous  service. 

In  1830  Dexter  had  attained  a  population  of  .")00. 
many  clearings  had  been  made  in  the  one  time  vast 
wilderness,  and  Main  street,  with  one  or  two  tribu- 
taries, had  become  fairly  well  defined.  .lonathaii 
Fai-rar  was  the  ju-incipal  merchant  and  also  the 
postmaster.  A  saw  mill,  carding  and  fulling  mill, 
tannery  and  gi-ist  mill  coniiirlsed  tlif  industrial 
features,  John  Bates,  subsequently  a  trader,  being 
the  village  "smithy."  Shortly  thereafter  William 
Smith  established  a  ferry  across  Silver  pond,  now 
known  as  Wassookeag  lake.  The  ferry,  in  1834,  wa,s. 
replaced  Ijy  a  floating  bridge,  this  being  sui)planted 
by  the  present  permanent  structure  in  18(il. 

In  1830  the  first  hotel  or  tavern  was  o])ened  by 
Benjandn  Greene  on  the  hill,  and  in  1834  John  Bates 
opened  a  public  house  just  around  the  bend  on 
Main  street.  The  Jiouse  is  still  standing,  though 
both  taverns  relinquished  the  business  in  a  few 
years  after  their  establishment.  In  1834  Stephen 
Davis  opened  a  licitelon  Main  street  upon  the  site  of 


thf;  p:a8Terx  (tAZEtte 


tlie  Dustin  block,  which  for  a  long  time  was  coa- 
diieted  by  Jonas  Wheeler,  who  in  1848  built  and 
opened  the  Dexter  House,  located  upon  the  Bank 
block  .site.  The  Dexter  House  was  for  many  years 
a  very  popular  hostelry  and  at  one  time  was  eon- 
ducted  l)y  Eben  Murch  who  subseciuently,  in  com- 
pany with  .John  (juimby,  assumed  the  management 
of    the    'DeWitt,"    in    Lewiston.     The     Exchange, 


Bank  block,  and  raised  one  story,  the  lower  story 
being  at  present  occupied  by  J.  Willis  Haines,  trader 
and  American  Express  agent,  and  Mrs.  Bailey.  In 
1838,  Ijaurence  Green,  for  ten  years  prior  thereto 
mail  post  rider  between  Bangor  and  Dexter,  estab- 
lished a  mail  and  stage  line  between  these  points 
though  the  vehicles  in  use  comprised  almost  any 
character  of  a  trap  that  could  l>e  made  available  for 


MAIN  strkp:t  IX  1847 


fronting  on  Main.  Wall  autl  iSiJring  streets,  was 
built  by  Loring  D.  Hayes  in  1866,  the  plot  upon 
which  it  stands  having  prior  thereto  been  the  prop- 
erty of  Augustus  French,  at  one  time  postmaster  of 
Dexter,  and  one  of  the  town's  well  known  dry  goods 
merchants. 

In  1874  the  Dexter  House  was  moved  further  along 
Main  street,  to  make  room  for  the  erection  of  the 


the  puri)ose,  and  the  same  can  be  said  of  the  line 
established  later  between  Dexter  and  Skowhegan. 

Early  in  the  thirties  John  Favor  began  operating 
the  stage  line  between  Bangor  and  Dexter,  placing 
a  modern  Troy  coach  thereon.  This  innovation  at 
once  met  with  popidar  apijroval  and  patronage. 
Robert  Sampson  and  later  Hiram  Saflford  attended 
to  the  transportation  of  freight.     Favor   was  sue- 


THE  EASTEKX  (GAZETTE 


ceeded  by  such  well  known  and  iKiiiuliir  "whips"  as 
Dennis  Pullen,  8i  Washljiirn,  John  Smith  and  Jerry 
McDonald,  the  latter,  still  living  in  Han{<or,  in  coni- 
liany  with  Walter  Smith,  previons  to  his  con<hictinfj- 
of  the  Hanfior  line,  having  operated  the  line  between 
Dexter  and  Skowhej^an.  Still  later,  in  the  4ll"s, 
Jerry  Scribner  established  a  line  between  Water- 
ville  and  Monson,  suljseqiiently  extended  to  Moose- 
head  Lake,  which  shortly  after  its  installation  be- 
came a  U.  8.  mail  route.  Scribner  was  succeeded 
by  Jason  Norris  and  later  by  Wni.  Fryes.  Both  this 
and  the  Bangor  line  were  discontinued  shortly  after 


The  Dexter  KiHes  was  orfiani/.ed  in  l«;i4  by  Lysan- 
der  ('ntler,  who  comiuanded  the  company  until 
18:^7.  The  company  jiai ticipated  in  the  Aroostook 
war  of  1839  and  later  disbanded.  Co.  C.SndRegt. 
M.  N.  (t.,  was  organized  in  1881.  and  during  its  ten 
years  existence  attained  an  unexcelled  reputation 
for  marksmanship,  having  won  various  individual 
and  team  trophies,  and  a  company  silk  flag,  the  lat- 
ter in  comj)etition  with  other  companies  at  the  State 
muster.  Apart  from  peaceful  military  service  many 
of  Dexter's  earlier  settlers  particii)ated  in  the  war 
of  1812,  and  288  of  its  citizens  were  enrolled  in  the 


I'liKKT    IN    I'.IIM 


the  opening  of  the  railroad  li'imi  Waterville  to  Ban- 
gor in  185.5,  at  which  time  Samuel  Cushman  estab- 
lished an  acconnuodation  line  between  Dexter  and 
Newport,  while  Morrison  and  Hunting  operated  a 
day  line  of  Concord  coaches  between  Newport  and 
Moosehead  Lake,  Gardner  Sturtevant,  Jerry  Paige, 
and  others  attending  to  the  trucking  of  freight. 
All  of  the  old  time  transportation  methods  have 
given  way  to  <|uick  transit  by  the  railway  opened 
from  Newport  to  Dexter  in  ISHi,  and  to  Dover  in 
1890.  with  the  prosi)eet  of  an  electric  line  fi-oni  T)e\- 
ter  to  Bangor  in  the  near  future. 


various  arms  of  service  in  the  late  civil  war.  while 
practically  a  dozen  responded  to  the  call  for  volun- 
teers during  the  S|>anish-American  trouble.  As  a 
fitting  climax  a  handsome  monument  in  commem- 
oration of  those  who  gave  their  lives  in  defence  of 
their  country  during  the  war  of  61-5  decorates  the 
library  park.  From  a  population  of  500  in  1830,  the 
town  has  grown  to  a  population  of  over  3000  inhabi- 
tants, with  852  polls  and  a  valuation  of  f  1,030,188, 
the  latter  having  nearly  tlirebled  within  the  past 
half  century. 

Dexter  is  fortitied  with   all   the  moilern  improve- 


THE  EASTERN  (+AZKTTE 


iiients,  im-luiliii^'  exeellfnt  schools,  water,  fire  de- 
partment and  electric  litflit  systems,  and  has  under 
way,  and  partially  completed,  a  most  thorough  and 
comprehensive  sewer  system.  There  are  eight 
churches,  two  banks — National  and  Savings  —  a 
Trust  Company,  Loan  and  Kuilding  Association  and 
one  of  the  best  public  libraries  in  the  State.  There 
are  organized  branches  of  all  the  leading  secret 
bodies,  social  and  fraternal,  and  a  business  men's 
club  occui)ying  suuijituous  (|uarters  that  are  second 
to  none  within  Maine's  liorders. 

Town  Affairs. 

Dexter  was  named  in  honor  of  Samuel  Dexter  of 
Massachusetts  and  was  incorporated  June  17,  1816, 
its  first  town  meeting  being  held  in  the  August  fol- 
lowing, Andrew  Mor.se  being  moderator  thereof. 
Its  subseqvieut  conventions  were  held  either  in  the 
SafCord  district  school  house  or  at  the  residence  of 
some  one  of  the  fathers  of  the  town  until  the  erec- 
tion of  the  school  building  in  182i,  on  Main  street, 
which  was  utilized  for  town  purposes  until  the  erec- 
tion of  a  two  story  Town  hall  building  in  1836.  on 
the  hill,  which  was  partially  devoted  to  school  pur- 
poses. The  first  town  meeting  was  held  therein 
March  13,  1837.  At  the  town  meeting  held  March 
18,  1850,  the  interior  of  the  building  collapsed,  caus- 
ing a  momentary  panic,  though  no  one  was  sei'ious- 
ly  injured.  The  building  was  condemned  and  sub- 
sequently ijurchased  by  the  Abbotts  and  moved  to 
their  plant  where  it  was  i-emodeled  and  answers 
the  purpose  of  an  ofRee  and  storehouse. 

The  present  two-story  structure  was  erected  ujion 
the  same  site  of  the  |)revious  Town  hall  in  18-")T.  It 
was  thoroughly  overhauled  and  remodeled  in  ISTT. 
and  in  1902  further  improved  by  the  addition  of  a 
gothie  portico  fronting  the  park  and  a  general  re- 
finishing  of  the  interior.  The  main  floor  is  divided 
hito  a  banquet  hall  with  connecting  kitchen,  office 
for  the  use  of  the  water  board,  and  a  convenient 
lockup  in  the  rear.  Upon  the  floor  above,  reached 
by  wide,  easy  stairways  at  the  right  and  left,  is  the 
hall  proper,  circled  by  a  gallery  upon  three  sides, 
with  private  boxes  bordering  the  proscenium  of  a 
fully  scene  etiuipped  stage,  which  with  ample  dress- 
ing rooms  occupies  the  rear  end  of  the  building. 
The  hall  is  lighted  by  electricity  and  acetylene  gas 
and  will  comfortably  seat  700  jiersons.  The  seats 
are  readily  removed  whenever  occasion  demands. 

The  present  official  roster  of  the  town  is  com- 
l)rised  in  E.  J.  Sturtevant,  Andrew  Hi'awn  and  .-\t- 
wood  J.  Cobb  as  its  Hoard  of  Selectmen:  .1.  Willis 
Haines,  town  clerk;  Charles  D.  Roberts,  treasurer; 
Edwin  Bunker,  collector;  M.  1).  Russell,  road  com- 
missioner;  Samuel  Eldridge,  town  agent  and  S.  S. 
Watson,  supt.  of  cemetHries. 


Fire  Department. 

Dexter's  fire  deijartuient  is  comprised  of  two  hand 
tubs  of  the  Button  manufacture  and  a  Hunneman 
machine  the  former  being  located  in  the  town 
projierantl  the  latter  at  Spooner's  Mills,  each  being 
nuiinied  b\'  a  comi)any  of  forty  men.  In  addition 
thereto  are  two  indei>endent  hose  companies  of 
fifteen  men  each  and  hook  and  ladder  truck  to 
which  is  attached  a  comi>any  of  twenty  men,  all  of 
which  are  undei-  the  direct  charge  of  a  Board  of 
Engineers,  comi)risiug  Leslie  Curtis  as  chief  ;' Forest 
Lincf)ln,  first  assistant  and  .James  Mountain  as  sec- 
ond. The  api)aratus  is  all  in  first  class  condition, 
comfortably  housed,  and  the  department  is  su|)plied 
with  about  3,000  feet  of  2  1-3  inch  rubber  lined  hose. 

The  first  fire  engine  was  installed  in  Dexter  in 
183(3,  being  followed  in  1873  by  a  hook  and  ladder 
truck  and  in  1875  by  the  the  two  Button  machines. 

Prioi-  to  the  introduction  of  the  water  works  in 
1003,  fire  protection  was  afforded  the  business  and 
a  portion  of  the  residential  section  by  iron  pipes 
laid  in  the  principal  thoroughfares,  with  hydi-ants 
attached,  through  which  water  was  forced  by 
fire  pumps  connected  with  the  W'Oolen  mill  i)lants, 
the  first  fire  pump  being  installed  through  pul)lic 
subscription  and  attached  to  Small's  grist  mill. 
Owing  to  these  excellent  precautions  fires  have  been 
of  infre(|uent  occurrence  and  rarely  has  a  fire  spread 
outside  of  the  l)uilding  in  which  it  originated. 

The  principal  fires  of  late  years  com|)rise  that  of 
Ajiril  23,  1883,  when  a  numl:)er  of  structuivs  were 
burned  on  Main  street  Ijelow  the  Dustin  block  ;  the 
High  school  luiildingon  School  street,  Dec.  17,  1887  ;. 
the  Eldridge  Brothers  planing  mill,  March  20, 
1888;  the  Shepherd  &  Wheeler  carriage  repository 
on  Cliurch  street.  March  35,  1805,  and  the  Hank 
block,  .Jan.  17,  18!i(!. 

Water  Service. 

Dnxter  has  a  nuist  excellent  system  ot  water 
works,  installed  in  the  fall  of  1003,  under  the  direc- 
tion of  a  special  town  committee  chosen  for  the  pur- 
pose. Water  is  taken  from  Silver  jjond,  which  after 
being  thoroughly  screened  is  forced  by  a  Dean  pump 
of  30,000  gallons  capacity  per  hour,  through  a  twelve 
inch  nuiin  into  a  reservoir  of  500,000  gallons  capaci- 
ty, located  on  Ayer's  hill,  338  feet  above  tide  water. 
At  present  there  has  been  lain  17.334  feet  of  six-inch, 
0,070  feet  of  eight-inch,  1,406  feet  of  ten-inch  and 
1,833  feet  of  twelve-inch  ujains,  with  a  siip]ily  pijie 
of  4,907  feet 

There  ai'e  at  present  upwards  of  80  services  in  use, 
with  07  fire  hydrants  scattered  about  the  town,  the 
average  pressure  being  100  pounds  to  the  square 
inch.  The  system  is  in  charge  of  Messrs.  I).  H. 
Mudgett,  S.  ]j.  Snuill  and  W.  H.  .Tudkins  as  watei- 


/a 


■vv^ 


TH 


k  EAf 


ASTERN  GAZETTE 


coiiiiiufisioiiers. 
tendeiit. 


ami     WaltHi'    (icirdoi 


Schools. 


1      MS      SlUiHl-lll- 


Tlie  school  .system  of  DfXter  is,  and  always  has 
been,  a  pride  to  its  townsneople,  and  its  general 
efficiency  can  be  ascribed  to  the  indefatigable 
efforts  of  its  several  school  boards  and  supervisors, 
aiixiliarized  by  a  staff  of  competent  instructors. 
The  i)resent  school  board  conijirises  Dr.  W.  A. 
Bumps,  as  chairman,  W.  L.  Fay  and  F.  ().  .\dditon. 

Dexter's  scliool  annals   are  somewhat    indefinite. 


inj;  on  School  street.  This  huildinji-  was  partially 
destroyed  by  fire  Jan.  iH,  18^1,  and  was  at  once  re- 
paired and  reiuodeled,  but  Dec.  17.  1887,  was  totally 
destroyed  by  fire,  involviuK  a  loss  of  -tSOOO.  It  was 
succeeded  the  following  year  by  the  present  hand- 
some edifice  on  Spring  street,  erected  at  a  cost  of 

#r2,nno. 

Including  the  High  school  there  are  four  school 
buildings  within  the  village  proper  and  ten  rural 
school  structures,  tlieaiiproximate  numl)er  of  pui)ils 
being  700,  divisioned  into  High,  Grammar,  Inter- 
mediate.  Primary  and  sub-Primar>-  grades,  with  a. 


P"t 

HF''                                                                  -    i.a.wHH 

I'LK.XSANT   S'rRKKT    SCHOOI-    BriliDI.NG 


though  tradition  holds  that  the  first  school  building 
was  erected  in  1807,  near  the  residence  of  Simeon 
Safford.  and  that  in  1817  the  town  was  divisioned 
into  five  school  districts. 

In  182:.'  a  substantial  school  building  was  erected 
ui)on  Main  street,  on  the  site  of  the  present  law 
building  of  (!rosby  &  Crosby,  the  building  for  many 
years  being  utilized  for  town  conventions.  For  a 
long  time  High  school  sessions  were  held  in  the  old 
Town  hall  on  the  hill,  but  the  collapse  of  that 
structure  in  ISoti  necessitated  a  change,  resulting  in 
the  erection  of  a  High  and  (Trammar  school  l)uild- 


cori>s  of  twenty  instructors,  inclusive  of  the  princi- 
pal of  the  Hi'.'li  sciiool. 

Abbott  I/ibrary. 

Practically  miilwax  the  [larU,  bounded  by  iMain. 
Churchand  IMeasaiit  streets,  backed  by  an  heroicme- 
morial  commemorative  of  the  valor  of  those  Dexter- 
ites  who  gave  their  lives  in  defence  of  their  country 
during  the  civil  war.  and  flanked  by  grim  looking 
cannon,  relics  also  of  the  late  unpleasantness, 
stands  the  Abbott  Memorial  Library,  the  gift  of 
and    a   lasting   tribute  to  the  memory  of   the  late 


8 


THE  EASTERN  (itAZETTE 


George  A.  Abljott,  son  of  the  lute  Amos  Abbott,  one 
of  the  founders  of  the  Amos  Abbott  Woolen  Com- 
pany, with  which  tlie  former  was  identified  for 
many  vears. 


W:J^ 

t 

OiKOKGK    A.    ABBOTT 

The  library  building,  of  somewhat  massive  ap- 
pearance externally,  was  erected  in  1898  at  a  cost  of 
$30,000  to  its  donor,  in  addition  to  which  he  be- 
queathed the  income  of  tl^OOO  set  apart  for  its  care. 
The  building  stands  practically  upon  the  site  for- 
merly occupied  by  the  residence  of  the  late  Dr.  (t. 
M.  Burleigh,  Dexter' s  whilom  postmaster. 

The  structure  is  one  story  in  height,  built  of  cream 
tinted  pressed  brick  with  granite  foundations  and 
trimmings,  the  cornice  intersections  lieing  emljla- 
zoned  with  the  names  of  illustrious  authons  of  classic 
prose  and  poetry  of  old.  An  ascent  of  broad  granite 
steps  leads  through  an  arched  entrance  into  a  tile 
floored  storm  vestibule,  to  the  left  of  which  is  a 
commodious  apartment  assigned  to  the  use  of  the 
selectmen,  with  a  smaller  apartment  opposite  for 
.janitorial  use,  while  heavy  oaken  doors  open  into  a 
gothic  library  hall  beyond.  The  book  department, 
extending  to  the  rear,  is  divisioned  from  the  audi- 
ence hall  by  an  elalxirate  latticed  counter  facing  the 
entrance.  To  the  right  of  the  main  hall  is  a  memo- 
rial parlor  and  trustees  room,  the  walls  adorned 
with  many  handsome  works  of  art,  including  a  life- 
sized  oil  portrait  of  Lincoln,  the  martyred  president, 
encased  in  a  heavy  gilt  frame,  the  gift  of  the  late 
Mrs.  Cyrus  Foss.  Across  from  this  memorial  parlor 
is  a  commodious  reading  and  waiting  room  stocked 
with  the  leading  weekly  and  monthly  publications. 
The  interior  wood  work,  inclusive  of  the  flooring, 
is  of  natural  hard  wood  finish,  with  tinted  walls  in 
harmony  therewith,  and  altogether  it  is  one  of  the 
finest  library  buildings  in  the  State. 

The  library  contains  7300  volumes  beside  many 
valuable  works  of  reference  available  only  within 
the  premises.     The  library  is  in  charge  of  Miss  Lizzie 


Springall  as  librarian,  under  the  supervision  of  a 
Board  of  Trustees  comprising  H.  8.  Dole,  president, 
C.  M.  Sawyer,  secretary  and  Rev.  .1.  (j.  Fisher,  A. 
A.  Springall  and  F.  D.  Dearth. 

The  present  library  is  the  outcome  of  a  cin-ulat- 
ing  library  supi>orted  by  borrowers  and  established 
in  1867.  In  1881  this  was  merged  into  a  free  library 
and  for  a  time  was  located  in  different  quarters  on 
Main  street.  In  1895  it  was  transferred  to  the  Town 
hall  from  whence  it  was  removed  to  its  present 
quarters. 

Post  Office. 

Tlie  Dexter  post  office,  since  187(3  occupying  the 
west  end  of  the  street  floor  of  the  Bank  Ijlock  on  Main 
St.,  isamodel  of  neatness  and  its  convenience  regard- 
ing public  accessibility  and  general  mailing  facilities 
could  hardly  be  bettered.  With  the  exception  of 
Sunday,  six  mails  daily  are  received  and  the  same 
number  despatched  to  and  from  all  points  by  rail, 
in  addition  to  which  there  are  two  rural  free  deliv- 
ery routes,  covering  a  territory  averaging  twenty- 
three  miles  each,  with  two  star  routes  embracing 
the  towns  of  North  Dexter,  Cambridge,  Ripley, 
Garland  and  Exeter  at  this  office,  involving  the  ser- 
vices of  two  assistants  in  the  handling  and  expedit- 
ing of  mail  matter. 

Dexter's  first  post  office  was  established  in  1818 
and  located  in  what  is  now  known  as  the  Flynt 
house,  at  that  period  located  nearly  oi)posite  the 
head  of  Free  street.  Jonathan  Farrar  was  post- 
master and  the  mail  to  and  from  Bangor  anil,  inter- 
mediate points  was  transported  on  horseback, 
Laurence  Green  being  the  first  post  rider.  Ten  years 
later  a  nuiil  stage  line  was  established  between 
Bangor  and  Dexter,  followed  later  by  lines  to  Skow- 
hegan  and  Waterville,  these  being  in  later  years 
su|)planted  by  railway  mail  service.  Succeeding' 
Mr.  Farrar  as  postmaster  was  Dr.  G.  M.  Burleigh, 
the  office  being  located  in  his  I'esidence,  then  loca- 
ted where  now  stands  tlie  library  building.  Dr. 
Burleigh  was  followed  by  Augustus  French,  who 
removed  the  office  to  his  store  on  Main  street,  on 
the  corner  of  what  is  now  Wall  street,  he  being  suc- 
ceeded by  George  Hamilton,  Nathaniel  Dustin,  Col. 
H.  L.  Wood,  umler  whose  administration  the  office 
was  raised  to  the  presidential  grade.  Dr.  Simeon 
Mudgett,  D.  H.  Mvidgett,  Nathan  Roberts,  E.  H. 
Chase,  and  Freeman  1).  Dearth,  whose  appnint- 
ment  dates  from  Julv  1st.  lyOO. 


THK  KASTKKN  H.VAKTVK 


The  Churches  and  Pastors  of  Dexter 


Methodist  Episcopal. 

TliH  iletliodist  Ejjisfopal  .sciciety  is  rlie  oldt^st  of 
tlie  several  religious  ilenoiuiiiations  in  Dexter,  bav- 
in;^ lieen  organized  in  18::2  l)y  Rev.  Melville  B.  (dx. 
suijsequently  a  missionary  to  Liberia,  where  lie 
died.  The  society  was  an  offshoot  of  the  Exeter  lir 
euif,  organized  four  years  prior  thereto  by  Kev. 
Benjamin  .lones  of  the  New  England  Conference. 
In  in:)4  the  Methcidists  and  Hai)tists  Imilt  a  union 
church.     In     1S4()    the     Baptists   disposed    of    theii' 


making  a  total  seating  capacity  of  (jOO.  There^are 
at  present  \~)2  members,  with  a  Sabbath  school 
rising  14i(  scholars,  and  an  Epworth  League  of  (iO 
members.  Its  board  of  trustees  comprises 'S.  M. 
Leigbron.  president:  < '.  M.  tsawyer,  secretary  and 
trcMsurei-:  W.  H.  Curtis,  cai'e  taker:  H.  B.  Haskell, 
pastor  and  collector:  Llewellyn  ('opelaud.  Nathan 
Daggett,  II.  A.  Johnson.  A.. J.  Kuowles.  (i.  W.  Marsh 
a,nil  H.   E.  Tibbetts. 

Kev.  H.  B.  Haskell,  pastor  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal ehurcli,  is  a  native  of  North  X'assalboro  and  is 


.MKTHdDIS'r    KI'ISCOP.XL   CHIKCH 


rights  to  the  Congregationalists.  who.  in  is4(i.  erect- 
ed a  house  of  worship  of  their  own.  the  Jlethodists 
aeciuiring  the  chapel  for  their  own  use.  In  18711  the 
chapel  was  enlarged  and  remodeled,  and  in  1K!,!I  was 
entirely  snpjdanted  l)y  the  present  handsome  edi- 
fice, corner  of  Main  and  School  streets,  which  was 
conqileted  and  dedicated  .January  '.28th,  IJKHI.  The 
interior  of  the  structure  is  finished  in  polished  hard 
wood,  with  a  wide,  deep  chancel,  in  the  rear  of 
wliieh  is  a  church  organ  of  the  most  approved  type, 
to  tlie  right  and  left  of  which  is  a  pastor's  study  and 
reception  rooms  resijectively.  The  auditorium  will 
seat  400  pel-sons,  with  the  vestry  opening  therein  and 


the  son  of  the  late  Kev.  C.  L.  Haskell  o(  the  Ea.st 
Maine  Conference.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was 
educated  in  the  public  school  and  Viy  private  tutor- 
age, graduating  from  the  East  Maine  Conference 
Seminary  in  18!t:3.  He  was  also  an  attendant  of  the 
Kii-ker  <'lassical  Institute  at  Houlton,  the  Drew 
Tlie<ilogical  Seminary  at  Madison.  N.  ,J.,  and  studied 
with  Tavlor  I'niveisit.v  of  Indiana,  where  he  ob- 
tained the  degree  of  Ph.  B.  In  18i»4  he  joined  the 
East  Jlaine  Conference,  and  in  1S!I(;  received  his 
first  ordination  at  the  hands  of  Bishop  Merrill  of 
('hicago  in  ()lilt(]wn.  Subsequently  be  attended 
till-  N I  iitIi  western  I' iii  versify  of  Chicago,  graduating 


10 


THK   KASTKKX  (iAZl/l'TK 


liKV.    H      H.    H  \>K)';i.l. 

fruiii  it^  tlit'iiloiiiciil  (Ippai-tiUHiit  in  IMIMI,  and  was 
ortlained  as  Kklor  uf  tlie  JletlKidist  Ki)isci>|>al 
church  by  Bishoi)  MallalifU,  of  Boston,  at  Belfast 
in  IflOO,  and  assumed  his  |)resent  chai-jfe  in  Septeni- 
hei"  tile  same  yea  r. 

First   Baptist. 

Tlie  First  Bai)tist  cliurcli  of  l)e\ter  is  practieally 
an  offslioot  of  the  ParliUian  Baptist  soeiet\,  and 
was  organized  Mareh  1(i.  IH'io,  and  in  December  the 
same  year  hecauie  an  independent  societj'.  Elder 
Jacol)  Hatch  Ijein^' tlie  first  jiastor.  Calvin  Copeland, 
clerl\,  and  Levi  Morrill,  deacon.  The  present  meet- 
ing: house,  on  the  corner  of  Main  and  Free  streets. 
was  erected  in  18;!!l.  and  thorouf>hly  renovated  in  18HH. 
the  parsonagre  in  connection  therewith  beint;  erected 
in  18!l~).  In  liKKi  extensive  repairs  were  made  on  the 
interior  of  the  church,  as  also  the  ))arsonage.  The 
present  church  roster  coni])rises  Rev.  Henry  B. 
Woods  as  pastor;  Jeremiah  Knox,  A.  F.  Mower  and 
L.  M.  Haseltine.  deacons;  Mrs.  .Jesse  Kimball,  clerk; 
FA\a,  J.  Mower,  financial  secretary;  Jlrs.  Thomas  A. 
Cliaiiiiler.  treasurer;  Mrs.  A.  H.  Fassett.  su])er- 
intendeiit  of  benevolence.  The  church  membership 
is  about  150,  with  some  48  non-residents,  and  a  Sab- 
bath school  of  148,  (xeorffe  A.  Smart  beins;:  sujierin- 
tendent  thereof. 

First  Universalist. 

The  First  Universalist  society  was  founded  Sep- 
tember •JSd.  1H28.  Rev.  Wm,  Frost  beiiij^  first  pastor 
thereof.  In  luili  a  churcli  edilice,  tlie  first  in  the 
town,  was  erected  on  (Jluirch  street,  the  lot  uijon 
which  it  .stands,  one  of  the  most  prominent  in  town, 
and  douhlv  so  since  the  erection  of  the  .Abliott  Me- 


morial lilirarx  acl.joinin;;-.  Iieiii^r  the  fiift  of  .lonathaii 
Farrar.  one  of  its  early  jiarishioiiers.  In  IMl'.i  the 
structure  was  remodeled  and  refitted  at  an  e\peiise 
of  *10.(I(HI.  and  in  18!I7  further  improvements  were 
made,  a  handsome  parsonajre  on  Maple  street  hav- 
inyr  l)een  erected  in  the  mean  time,  in  18111.  Many 
of  the  most  prominent  and  influential  families  of 
Dexter  have  been,  and  are  at  present,  identified  with  . 
this  societv,  iiicludiiiy'  those  of  Messrs.  Farrar.  .\b- 


KIIIST    r  M  VKltSA  LIST    rHriiCH 

bott.  Coolidffe.  Bates,  French.  Burleigh.  l>ustin. 
Shaw.  Foss.  Carr.  Mudgett.  (Jrockett.  and  many 
others.  The  interior  of  the  present  edifice  is  fin- 
iiished  in  polished  hard  wo(jd  of  light  effects,  the 
auditorium  having  a  seating  <'apacity  of  some  500. 
with  a  vestry  in  connection.  About  125  families  are 
represented  within  the  parish,  with  a  church  mem- 
bershi])  of  !I0.  and  a  Sabbath  school  of   rising  one 


T 1 1  !•:  K  A  S  T  K  K  \  (  t  A  Z  K  T  T  K 


U 


liiindrHil  atteinlaiits.  'I'lii-  |iiirisli  m-naiiization  is 
offii-ially  coiiiiiiised  of  Dana  ('ruckerr  as  cliainiiau, 
A.  P.  Abbdtr.  clpik,  ami  Dr.  J.  W.  Sawyer,  treas- 
urer, with  a  parish  coiiiiuittee  comix ise<l  of  Dana 
•  'roekett,  A.  P.  .\bhott,  J.  VV.  Sprin^all.  Charles 
Morse  and  ( 'harles  (i.  Towle:  Jliss  Mary  }^.  Jiamil 
ton  l>einu;  sei-retary  of  tlie  ehnrch  oi-^anization,  witli 
Kh\.  W.  H.  <T(.nl(l  as  pastor,  and  Mrs.  A,  H.  Orock- 
etr,  snperintendent  of  Sunday  scliool.  Connected 
uirli  the  church  is  the  Y.  }>.  C.  U..  of  which  Miss 
Inez.  Dustin  is  president,  and  Abljie  H.  Hamilton, 
secretary,  and  a  Ladies"  Aid  society,  of  whicli  Mrs. 
W.  H.  Carr  is  president,  and  Jlrs.  'I'.  H.  H.  I'ii-rci-  is 
secretary. 


HKV.  \v.  H.  m>ri,n 

Hev.  W.  II.  (ioiild,  pastoi-  of  the  De\tei-  rni\ersal- 
ist  church,  was  born  in  Jay.  Maine.  .June  l.")th.  lS(i4. 
ac(]uiring'  his  education  in  the  public  school  and 
Westbrook  seminary,  graduatin":  from  the  latter  in 
1881.  He  then  entered  Tufts  college,  of  Somerville, 
Massachusetts,  from  whence  he  graduated  in  188"), 
and  from  thence  attended  the  tlieological  tlepart- 
ment  of  the  same  institution,  graduating  in  1888. 
During  the  last  year  of  his  theological  course  he  oc- 
cupied tile  pulpit  of  the  Xatick,  Massaehusett.s, 
Universalist  church,  of  which  he  was  ordained 
l>astor  at  the  close  of  his  college  course,  remaining 
therewith  until  ISIIU,  since  which  period  he  has  l)een 
identified  with  his  present  charge.  In  addition  to 
his  pastoral  duties  Mr.  <TOuld  is  president  of  the 
Universalist  State  Sunday  School  convention.  He 
is  also  past  high  priest  of  St.  John's  Chapter,  Royal 
Arch  Masons,  and  past  noble  grand  of  Plymouth 
Lodge.  I.  ().  ().   I\ 

Episcopal. 

The  Church  of  the  ^lessiali,  or  what  is  better 
known  as  the  Kpiscopal  church,  was  organized  in 
1866    Rev.   N.   L   Briggs   being  the    first    rector.     In 


18(i 
ed. 

is: 

gus 

by 

chu 

tioi 

Kl( 

tin 

ler 

no 


I.  the  present  edilice  on  Spring  street    was  erect- 

tlie  (ii-st  service  being  held  therein  JLirch  Hth. 
.'.  anil  in  is;;  an  organ  was  placed  therein.  .\u- 
t  ■,'4tli.  1887.  the  church  was  formally  consecrated 

Hisho])  Xealy.  .Among  the  rectors  of  this 
ircli.    other   than    those    noted,  should   be   men- 

ed   Reverends  Charles  T.   Ogden,  A.  M.  Terris, 

hard    Price,  Thomas   Marsden,  William  I).  Mar- 

tieoige  S.   Hill,  Joseph  S.   Colton,  I,.  W.   Fow- 

and  W.  D.  Dale.  At  present  the  church  has 
settled  re<'tor. 


First   Congregational. 


The  First  Congregational  church  of  De.xter  was 
organized  l)y  Ecclesiastical  Council.  .July  'ilid,  1834. 
with  tile  veueral)le  .Tohn  Sawyer  as  moderator.  The 
society  worshipped  in  other  churches,  latterly  the 
Methodist  chapel,  until  1846,  when  the  society 
erected  its  own  chapel,  which  latter  was  sujiplanted 
by  the  present  edifice  on  Spring  street,  which  was 
completed  and  dedicated  July  Tth.  1886,  Rev.  Smith 
Haker  preaching  the  dedication  sermon,  the  society, 
in  the  meantime,  in  1847,  having  been  incori)orated. 
There  are  some  seventy  families  represented  in  the 
parish,  with  a  church  membershi])  of  sixty.  The 
Saljliath  school  numbers  seventy-five,  of  which 
Timothy  Crowther  is  superintendent.  The  church 
organization  is  composed  of  Mrs.  Belle  M.  Foss  as 
clerk;  Charles  S.  Hutchinson,  treasurer:  F.  W. 
Barker,  auditor.  The  church  committee  is  com- 
prised of  Deacons  P.  .1.  Abbott,  Augustus  Cum- 
mings  and  Timotl)\  Crowther,  with  J.  Willis  i 'ros- 
by,   (xeijrge  Slate?'  and   (Talen    Ramsev  constituting 


l!KV.    .1.    G.    FrSHKI! 

the  piirish  connuittee.  Connected  with  the  society 
is  a  Ladies'  Aid,  of  which  Mrs.  C.  S.  Hutchinson  is 
president,  the  Y.  P.  S.  C.  E.,  of  which  Mrs.  Belle  M. 
Foss  is  secretary,  and  a  .junior  society  of  oO  mem- 
bers. The  interior  of  the  church  is  handsomely 
linished.  the  auditorium  seating  about  'MHK 


12 


THK  EASTERN  (tAZETTE 


Rev.  JaiiiHS  (i.  Fislinr,  pastor  of  the  First  ('oij<;re- 
jrational  cliiin-li  of  Dexter,  is  a  native  of  Eiveriiiore. 
Maine,  and  was  educated  in  the  public  schools. 
Haviuf^  later  ac(|uired  a  business  training  he  went 


Free  Baptist. 


The  Free  Bapti.st  society  of  Dexter  was  oryani/eil 
..c^w.f^   .,o>v.   c.v,,  «..^^.  i-  .-..o...^.,.,  ^.>..,....^  ....   ..V...       May  :!,   It'lill,  by  an  Ei-clesiastical  Council.  ii>ni|iris 

to  Boston,  where  for  ten  years  he  was  eriKiiK^fl  ft'*  ^  '"K  Reverends  N.  F.  We.vnioiith,  A.  L.  (jei-rish.  )i. 
bookkeeper  and  paymaster  for  one  of  the  corpora-  S.  (Tcn-y,  O.  W.  Hridf^es  and  A.  P.  Tracy,  the  latter 
tions  under  the  inanageuient  of  ('.  A.  E.  Ewing  A:  beconiin;;- the  first  pastor,  with  fifteen  charter  niein- 
(lo.     Subse(|ueiitly  he  entered  rhe  Hanf,'i>r  Tlieolo^-       bers.     The    tour    years    following'    the   societ.v    wor- 


KIKST    CONKliKGATIOXAI,   CHIKCn 


ical  seminary,  t;railuatini;-  th.Tefroni  in  lb8!t.  He 
was  called  to  the  i>astorate  of  the  ( 'ong-res'ational 
church  in  Dexter  in  .July  the  same  year,  and  or- 
dained as  its  pastor  September  intli  following.  Mr. 
Fisher  is  a  member  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  the 
Abbott  Memorial  library,  and  is  chaplain  of  the  St. 
.Iohn".s  ChaiJter,  Royal  Arch  Masons. 


sliijipi'd  ill  the  ( 'ongrHgational  cliurcli,  a  nil  iji  1S74 
the  present  church  on  Siiring  street  was  coiujileted. 
being  dedicated  in  Septenjber.  1876.  Rev.  F.  H. 
Peckha.ni  i]reaching  the  dedication  sermon.  The 
original  cost  of  the  edifice  was  rising  4^:l.(l(l(i  which, 
with  additions  and  '  improvements  from  time  to 
time,  has  resulted,   in  the  aggregate,  to  soniHthing 


THE  KASTEKN  (4AZKTTK 


IS 


FHK.K    BAPTIST    (HrUCH 


l!K,V.     I.    1..    SAM>KI! 


over  *S.0()0,  the  cliurcli  1)eiiiK  freed  frmii  (lel>r  in 
1888.  The  soeiety  has  n  uieiiibei-shii)  nf  aliciir  !mi, 
iiieUidhig  several  nonresidents,  with  a  parish  iiieni- 
bership  representintr  some  twenty  families  and  a 
Sabbath  seh.M,!  ,,f  over  W.  ,,ver  which  L.  H.  Folsom 
acts  as  superintendent.  (Cnnected  with  thechnreh 
soeietv  is  a  Ladies'  Aid.  A.  F.  C  K.  .soeiety  and 
Wonians  Missionary  Auxiliary,  Miss  S.  A.  Bra-don 
being-  president  of  the  first  named,  F.  B.  Arnold  the 
seeond  an<l  Mrs  Lydia  Bridges  the  latter.  The 
ehureh  officials  are  at  present  comprised  in  Rev.  J. 
1,  Sanders  as  pastor;  deacons,  John  1-ary  and  T.  O. 
Farrar  the  latter  also  clerk;  Jliss  S.  A.  Bra«don. 
assistant  clerU  an.l  treasurer:  W.  E.  Brew.ster.  ^^  . 
('    Elder  and  F.  H.  ArnoUl,  trustees. 

Rev  .1  1..  Sander.s,  pastor  <.f  the  Free  Baptist 
church  of  Dexter,  was  born  in  Swanville,  Maine, 
February  28,  1868.  He  acquired  an  elementary  ed- 
.ication  "in  the  district  school,  supi.leniented  by  a 
public  and  High  school  education  in  Lowell.  Massa- 
chusetts, whither  he  moved  at  an  early  age.  gradu- 
ating from  the  High  school  in  18811.     After  two  years 


14 


THK  EASTERN  (tAZ-ETTR 


of  busiiiesjs  life  in  oi>iiiifcrii>ii  witli  the  l,a\vreiice 
JIaiiufaeturiiig  coiiipauy  of  Lowell,  he  jmrsued  his 
studies  in  the?s^e\v  Hampshire  ( 'onference  seminary, 
graduating  from  its  three  years  medical  prepara- 
tory course  in  18il4.  Fioni  thence  he  entered  the 
Cobb  llivinity  school  in  connection  with  Hates  col- 
lege of  Lewiston,  and  was  graduated  in  the  class  of 
1897.  Entering  the  ministry,  he  was  called  to  the 
pastorate  of  the  Free  Baptist  clini'ch  of  Lake  View, 
Pennsylvjuiia.    in    A]ii-il.    IsiiS.  ,-11111    was  ordained   as 


ing  held  by  reverend  fathers  assigned  theieto  at 
stated  i)eriods  in  the  church  on  High  street,  erected 
in  187(>.  In  the  year  named  above  the  De.xter  parish 
was  created  and  Rev.  Fr.  P.  E.  Bradley  became  its 
pastor  until  1895,  when  the  present  jjastor.  Rev.  Fr. 
John  AV.  Houlihan,  assumed  charge  of  the  Dexter 
parish,  his  jni-isdiction  also  embracing  Dcjver,  San- 
gerville  and  Monson.  Under  the  hitter's  jiastorship 
the  parish  has  perceptibly  increased  i]i  iirosjierity 
an<l  nipnilicrshi|i.  the  latter  i-epresenting  upward  of 


ST.    ANNK  S    CVTHOLIC    CHriiCIl 


pastor  thei'eof  ,fiU.v  '24th  of  the  same  year.  In  the 
fall  of  1891  he  became  pastor  of  the  How  Lake  Free 
Hai)tist  societ.v  of  Stratford,  New  Hampshire,  re- 
maining until  January  12th,  1!I04,  when  he  became 
pastor  of  the  Dexter  societv. 

St.  Anne's  Catholic  Society. 

I'rior  to  189:j  the  St.  Anne's  ("atholic  society  of 
De.xter  was  embraced  within  the  jurisdiction  of 
Waterville,  Fairfield   and  Skowdiegan,   services   be- 


one  hundred  families,  with  a  Sabbath  school  of  one 
hundred  scholars  between  the  ages  of  six  and  four- 
teen. In  1902  the  present  handsome  edifice  was 
erected  on  the  corner  of  Free  and  (>nter  streets, 
one  of  the  most  connuanding  sites  in  the  town .  The 
church  i.s  of  Gothic  design,  and  with  its  two  towers 
and  (Tothic  jKirtico  presents  a  handsome  front.  The 
Iniilding  is  in  the  form  of  a  cross,  the  two  arms  en- 
closing a  vestry  and  chajjel.  The  interioi-  of  the 
etlilice    is  linished  in  polished   hard  woods,  the  oil- 


TIIK  KASTKKN  GAZKT'I'K 


15 


tiiiteil  wiiiiiscdttiii^r  and  cpiliuy  liariiioiii/iii^'  tlinre- 
with.  Tlie  statuary  and  stations  of  the  cross  syni- 
liolic  of  Catholicity  are  all  of  special  iiiiixjrtatioii. 
The  church  is  not  only  an  architeetuial  ornament 
to  the  town  but  a  credit  to  its  parishioners. 

Rev.  Pr.   Houlihan   was  hoi'n  in   Banfjor,   Fel).  I:!, 
IHTl.    and    was    educated    in     its    pul)lic    a,n<l     llifj:li 


schools  and  was  f;i-adnat>'cl  froin  rln'  Hol\-  Cross  col- 
lege of  Worcester  in  18!tl.  He  suhseipiently  attend- 
ed the  (irand  tSeminary  of  I,aval  University  of 
Montreal,  and  the  St.  Sulpice  Seminary  of  Paris. 
Sraduatinx  from  the  latter  in  18!M.  For  fourteen 
months  prior  to  cominji:  to  De.xter,  he  was  curate  of 
the  Cjitholii- clinrch  of  Old  Town.  Alaine. 


Sketches  of  Leading  Professional  Men 


Crosby  &  Crosby. 

The  oldest  law  tirm  in  Dexter  at  the  present  time 
is  that  of  Crosby  and  (jrosby,  father  and  son,  occu- 
pying a  (toiinuodious  ofllice  building  on  lower  Main 
street  nearl.v  opposite  the  stone  mill  and  jiractically 
upon  the  site  of  the  first  school  Ijuilding  of  inipor 
tance  erected  by  the  town  in  \Si'2,  the  ha,nds<ime 
colonial  residence  of  the  tirm  cre.sting  the  shad.v 
slope  in  the  rear  thereof.  Hon.  .losiah  Crosby, 
senior  memi)er  of  the  firm,  was  born  in  Dover,  N. 
N.,  Nov.  '.ii,  181(1,  his  |)arents  removing  to  Atkinson, 
Me.,  four  .vears  later.  He  lifted  for  college  in  the 
Foxcroft  Academy,  later  entering  Howdoin.  from 
whence  he  graduated  in  |S:!.")  receiving  the  degree 
of  A.    M.   in    I8:1S.       He  read   law    with   Alfred  .lolui- 


■iaSMfe.^aa*iaB^.^- 


^ 


tliirt.v -seven  years  he  was  modei-at(U-  of  De.xter's 
town  meetings,  was  a  meud)er  of  the  legislatures  of 
18:»7-8.  and  18(1"),  and  member  of  the  senate  in  1807-8, 
the  latter  year  as  president  of  that  body.  He 
was  a  i)ioneer  in  the  promotion  of  the  Dexter  and 
>.'ewi>ort  R.  R.  and  was  one  of  its  directors  and 
counsel  therefor  for  many  years.  He  is  a  director 
of  the  First  National  HanU.  counsel  for  the  Savings 
Hank,  and  for  many  .vears  a  member  of  the  Board  of 
Overseers  of  Howdoin  College.  He  is  also  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Maine  Bar  Association,  and  one  of  its 
original  adherents.  Mr.  Crosby  has  travelled  ex- 
tensively and  in  1887  visited  (rreat  Britain. 

His  son,  .1.  Willis  Ci-osby,  was  Ijorn  in  Dexter, 
Mav  '^!),  18l!0,  ac(|uiriiig  his  education  in  the  public 
and    High    schools,  graduating   from   the   latter    in 


HON.    .KISIAII    ClKlsBY 


.1.    WIl.l.lS    (KUSHY 


son  of  Belfast,  Frederic  Hobbs  of  Bangor  and 
Charles  P.  Chandler  of  Dover,  with  whom  he  asso- 
ciated in  practice  upon  his  admission  to  the  bar  of 
the  Supreme  Judicial  Court  in  Piscata(|uis  Coun- 
tv.  in  Sept.  18;>8.  Six  months  later  he  entered  prac- 
tice in  Kenduskeag.  coudng  from  thence  to  E.xe- 
ter  and  to  Dexter  in  184.-|.  Mr.  Crosby  has  en.joyed 
along  and  honcjrable  career  in  legal  life,  his  acu- 
nienic  talent  having  gained  him  distinguished  con- 
sideration in  the  halls  of  .iustice,  and  quite  a  few  of 
his  renditions  of  the  law  have  become  a  part  of  the 
legal  history  of  the  State.  Politically  he  has  been 
frei|Uentl\-      honored     )>>      his      constituents.       For 


1878,  anti  also  a  graduate  of  Bowdoin  College  of  the 
class  of  1882.  He  read  law  with  his  father  and  was 
admitted  to  the  Penobscot  County  bar  in  I880,  and 
to  the  United  States  Circuit  court  in  1800.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Maine  Bar  Association,  the  Republi- 
can town  committee,  is  Secretary  of  the  Penobscot 
Count.v  Committee,  and  was  chairuum  thereof  for 
two  years.  Like  his  distinguished  senior  he  has 
acquired  a  legal  acumen  and  dijilomatic  tact  that 
has  secured  himself  and  firm  business  and  pojjii- 
laritv.  They  have  one  of  the  best  iirivate  law  libra- 
ries in  Eastern  Maine,  which  they  take  pride  in 
keepinii'  up  to  date.     The  lirm  enqiloy  Miss  Winslow. 


Ki 


THE  EASTERN  (tAZETTE 


an     experieiice'cl     sreii(iK''iirli'"i'-     ''i"'     the    iiitice    is 
e(|iiiiiiipcl  witli  liiii'^- <lisriiiice  telephcuie. 

Postmaster  Dearth. 

Freeman  I).  Dearth,  Dexter's  present  efficient 
postmaster,  was  appointed  to  that  position  in  July 
1000,  his  infuml)ency  tliereof  having  thus  far  given 
general  satisfaction.  Mr.  Dearth,  wlio  is  an  attor- 
ney by  ijrofession,  witli  v.^ry  <'i>iivenient  offices  in 
the  Blethen  bnihling  opposite  the  post  office,  was 
born  in  Sangerville,  April  IG,  1801,  and  was  educated 
in  the  public  schools  with  a  college  preparatory 
course  in  tlie  Foxeroft  Academy  and  the  JIaine  Cen- 
tral Institute  at  Pittstield,  graduating  from  tlie 
ornier  in  1881,  and  tlie  hitter  in  188H.     From  thence 


F.   I>.    nKAii'i'H 

he  entered  Bowdoin  College  graduating  therefrom 
in  1887.  Three  years  later  he  entered  government 
service  in  the  jxist  office  dei>artnient,  and  at  the 
same  time  read  law  with  Messrs.  Crosby  and  Crosby 
of  Dexter,  and  was  admitted  to  the  Penobscot  liar 
in  18!)6,  at  which  time  he  entered  practice  foi-  him- 
self. Mr.  Dearfli  i>  one  of  Dexter's  public  spirited 
citizens  and  has  been  somewhat  prominent  in  local 
affairs,  having  been  chairman  of  the  school  board 
and  at  present  is  a  director  of  the  First  National 
Bank,  and  a  member  of  the  Boai-d  of  Trustees  of 
Al)1)Ott  Jlemoriiil  Lil)rMr\-. 

Dr.  W.  A.  Bumps, 

Physician  and  surgeon,  witli  offices  in  the  Dustin 
block,  was  born  in  Milo,  Me.,  April  2(i.  IHoG,  becom- 
ing a  resident  of  Bangor  in  1808,  where  he  obtained 
an  education  in  the  public  and  High  schools,  grad- 
uating from  the  latter  in  1870.  From  thence  he  at- 
tended the  University  of  Maine,  from  whence  he 
graduated  in  187ri,  and  from  which  institution  a  few 
years  later  the  doctor  acipiired  the  degree  of  Master 
of  Sciences.  Subseiiuently  he  entered  the  medical 
department   of    Bow<loiii   College,  and   from  thence 


attended  the  I'liiversity  of  N.  Y.,  graduating  from 
the  latter  in  188.'),  and  is  a  post  graduate  of  the  same 
institution.  The  doctor  has  also  taken  a  sjiecial 
course  in  the  N.  Y.  Eye  and  Ear  Infirmary.  He 
came  to  Dexter  in  187o,  and  in  the  interim  jirior  to 
entering  practice  in  188.1,  and  still  a  student,  was  a 
teacher  in  the  (Trammar  school  for  two  years,  and  a 
year  and  a  half  in  the  High  school.  For  thirteen 
years  Dr.  Humjis  was  connected  with  the  ;M.  N.  (t., 
first  as  an  assistant  surgeon  of  the  Jd  lleginient, 
being  shortly  advanced  to  the  position  of  surgeon, 
and  later  for  many  years  was  acting  meilical  <lirec 
tiM-of   the   iiiilitiM.     The  doctor  has  always  been  iu- 


Dli.    W.    A.    HIMP.S 

terested  in  eilucational  matters,  havinu  iu'en  tor 
two  years  superintendent  of  schools,  aed  foi  the 
past  four  years  chairman  of  the  school  hoard.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Maine  Medical  Society,  and  of 
the  Piscata(|uis  Medical  As.sociation,  as  also  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Jlaiue  Academy  of  Medicine  anil  Science, 
and  for  several  years  was  a  memlier  of  Dexter's 
Board  of  Health. 

Dr.  F.  :E.  Burgess. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch.  Dr.  F.  K.  Burgess, 
clairvoyant  and  magnetic  physician,  with  offices  at 
:!0  Main  St.,  is  a  native  of  Dover,  Me.  He  was  edu- 
cated in  its  public  schools  and  Foxeroft  Academy. 
Subse<iuently  he  taught  school  for  six  terms,  and 
came  to  Dexter  later,  where  he  actiuired  the  ma- 
chinist's trade,  and  was  employed  at  Diistin's  ma- 
chine shoi>  for  a  little  over  eight  years,  and  from 
thence  was   in   the   service  of   the  Bi'ainard    Milling 


THE  EASTERN  GAZETTE 


17 


Machine  Co.  nf  Hyde  Park.  Mass..  for  a  year  and  a 
half.  He  thence  devoted  his  attention  to  the  inter- 
ests of  his  chosen  profession  and  has  been  located 
in  Dexter  for  the  [last  dozen  years. 

Dr.  J.  W.  Sawyer. 

The  subject  of  this  sketcli.  Dr.  .J.  W,  Sawyer, 
physician  and  surgeon,  with  office  in  the  Dustin 
block,  Main  St..  and  residence  on  lower  Main  St., 
was  born  in  Monmouth,  .July  7,  18(i5,  and  a  few 
years  later  became  a  resident  of  Gardiner,  where  he 
attained  a  ijublic  school  education  and  graduated 
from  Its  High  school  in  1888.  He  subsequently  at- 
tended the  Normal  school  at  Farminj»ton  and  later 
taught  school  for  .several  terms,  and  then  entered 
the  medical  department  of  Bowdoin  College  from 
whence  he  graduated  in  1804.  From  thence  Dr. 
Sawyer  came  to  Dexter  and  established  practice, 
where  he  has  since  remained.  He  is  a  post  gradu- 
ate of  the  John  Hopkins  University  of  Baltimore, 
was  for  five  yeai-s  su])erintendent  of  Dexter  schools, 
is  a  member  of  the  Maine  Medical  Societ.v.  and  also 
of  the  Piscatai{uis  County  Medical  Association. 


Dr.  E.  Weymouth,  Dentist, 

Located  upon  the  second  floor  of  the  Dustin  block 
are  the  elaborately  furnished  and  spacious  apart- 
ments of  Dr.  E.  Weymouth,  dentist,  comprising  a 
general  reception  i]arlor  with  an  operating  room  in 
front,  and  another  with  laboratory  in  the  rear,  and 
centered  Ijy  an  office  and  private  reception  room, 
all  portierred  from  the  ujain  recejjtion  room.  Dr. 
Weymouth  is  a  native  of  Corinna,  and  was  educated 
in  the  public  school.  Dexter  High  school  and  Maine 
Central  Institute  of  Pittsfield,  and  is  a  graduate  of 
the  Baltimore  Dental  College  of  the  class  of  18!I5, 
entering  practice  in  Dexter  the  same  year.  Pro- 
fessional ethics  forbids  any  extended  eulngium  as 
to  the  doctor's  dental  abilities  and  even  if  such  were 
not  the  case,  it  would  be  entirely  unnecessary,  the 
fact  of  his  being  graduated  from  one  of  the  highest 
grade  dental  colleges  in  the  country,  combined  with 
the  satisfactory  service  rendered  numerous  patrons 
in  and  about  Dexter  during  his  nine  years'  practice, 
is  a  sufficient  guarantee  as  to  his  coini)etency  in 
all  details  of  medical,  operative  and  mechanical 
dentistry. 


Manufacturing  and  Business  Enterprises 


A.MOS    ABBOTT   CO.    MILL. 


18 


THE  EASTERN  GAZETTE 


Amos  Abbott  Co. 

One  of  the  principal  factors  of  Dexter's  industrial 
element  is  the  plant  of  the  Amos  Abbott  Co..  man- 
ufacturers of  woolens,  occupying  the  territory  inter- 
vening Church  and  Grove  streets,  Ijordering  the 
Wassookeag  stream  near  its  outlet  with  the  lake  of 
that  name,  which  in  conjunction  with  a  steam  plant 
furnishes  operative  power.  The  plant  is  the  out- 
growth (if  a  carding  mill  and  the  jirivileges  pertain- 
ing thereto  acquired  by  Jeremiah  and  Amos  Abbott 
in  1820,  which  shortly  after  was  enlarged  for  the 
purpose  of  manufacturing  woolen  goods.  In  1831 
Lysander  Cutler  acquired  an  interest  but  disposed 
of  his  rights  to  the  Abbotts  in  1834.  In  1854,  Job 
and  George  A,  Abbott,  sons  resjiectively  of  Jere- 
miah and  Amos,  became  identified  with  its  nuxnage- 


street,  the  latter  built  in  1898.  together  with  picker 
house,  dyeing  department,  several  storehouses,  a 
thoroughly  equipped  machine  shop,  and  commodi- 
ous office  structure.  The  manufacturing  plant 
has  the  capacity  of  a  ten  set  mill,  the  steam  plant  in 
conjunction  therewith  being  equipped  with  an  100 
h.  J),  engine,  in  addition  to  which  is  an  electric  light 
plant  e(|uii)pe(l  with  two  250  light  dynamos,  oper- 
ated l)y  an  511  h.  p.  engine.  The  output  averages 
50,1)00  yards  of  woolen  goods  monthly,  and  employ- 
ment is  furnished  170  hands,  among  whom  is  dis- 
tributed $5,000  monthly  in  wages.  Arthur  P.  Ab- 
bott, manager,  is  a  native  of  Dexter  and  apart  from 
a  public  school  education,  acquired  a  special  train- 
ing ill  the  Massachusetts  Institute  of  Technology, 
and  has  l)een  actively  identified  with  the  plant  for 
about  twentv-four  years. 


THK    DTMBARTOX    MILL. 


ment,  the  plant  later  being  operated  under  the  title 
of  Amos  Abbott  &  Co.,  the  decease  of  Amos  oc- 
curring in  1865  and  Jeremiah  in  1880.  Inlateryears 
Arthur  P.  and  G.  Walter  Abbott,  sons  respectively 
of  Job  and  George  A.  Abliott,  acipiired  an  interest, 
the  latter's  decease  occurring  in  January,  1898, 
Feb.  1,  1899,  the  Amos  Abbott  Co.  was  incorporated 
with  Job  Abbott  as  president,  Arthur  P.  Abbott 
treasurer,  and  G.  Walter  Abbott,  superintendent, 
the  latter  becoming  president  upon  the  decease  of 
Job  Abbott  in  January,  l!iO;>.  Since  the  decease  of 
G.  AValter  Abbott  in  Septendjer,  1903,  Arthur  P. 
Abbott  has  l)een  treasurer  and  manager,  the  sur- 
viving members  of  the  families  of  the  deceased  re- 
taining interest  therein.  The  plant  at  i)resent  com- 
prises a  three  story  factory  of  wood  11)1x45,  with  a 
brick  factory  115x60,adjoining  and  Ijordering  Church 


The  Dumbarton  Woolen  Co., 

of  which  I).  R.  Cami)l)ell  is  president  and  treasurer, 
A.  O.  Campbell,  secretary,  who  with  E.  Genthner, 
D.  O.  Campbell  and  George  Park,  the  latter  resi- 
dent manager,  constitute  the  directorate  owning 
and  operating  the  Dumbarton  mill,  formerly  known 
as  the  stone  mill  in  Dexter,  was  formed  in  1903. 
The  original  mill  occupying  this  site  was  built  in 
1834,  burned  in  1844,  and  a  story  stone  structure 
erected  the  following  year,  with  two  stories  of 
wood  added  thereto  in  1868.  Since  its  acquirement 
by  the  i>resent  corporation  the  property  has  been 
improved  and  placed  in  first  class  condition,  and 
ajjart  from  the  main  building  of  four  stories.  200x50, 
thoroughly  machine  equipped  for  the  operation  of 
a  seven  set  null,  includes  a  picker  house,  storehouse, 


THE  EASTERN  GAZETTE 


19 


eoiiiiiiodious  office  bviilding,  fronting  lower  Main 
St.,  and  a  newly  erected  dye  house,  with  an  150  h. 
p.  steam  plant,  auxiliary  to  the  water  power.  Its 
output  is  about  40,000  yards  of  plain  and  fancy 
woolens  monthly,  employment  being  furnished  120 
hands,  the  monthly  pay  roll  aggregating  $4,000. 
T>.  R.  Campbell,  president  of  the  company,  is  a 
native  of  Galashiels,  Scotland,  coming  to  Amesbury, 
Mass.,  in  1855,  and  in  1858  to  Dexter,  imrchasinff  an 
interest  in  the  old  red  woolen  mill  built  by  Calvin 
Copeland  in  1847,  upon  the  site  of  tlie  Fay  &  Scott 
works.  Later  he  assumed  the  entire  control,  and 
in  1868  the  mill  was  burned.  The  following  year 
Mr.  Campbell  acquired  a  woolen  mill  in  Sangerville 
which   in    1886   was    supplanted   by   what    is    now 


tion  of  a  four  set  mill,  including  a  steam  plant 
e(iuii>ped  witli  an  100  h.  p.  engine.  The  plant  was 
installed  in  1849,  and  operated  by  A.  E.  Conant  & 
Co.,  the  Farrar  and  Cutler  syndicate  succeeding 
thereto  in  1854,  and  the  Dexter  Mills  Co.  in  1857,  the 
present  management  acquiring  its  possession  in 
18'J8,  since  which  it  has  been  vastly  improved.  Its 
chief  product  is  broadcloth  and  a  line  of  carriage 
trimmings,  with  an  output  of  30.000  yards  monthly, 
furnishing  employment  to  from  50  to  75  hands, 
among  whom  is  distributed  #2,000  in  wages.  Na- 
than Daggett,  its  president,  is  a  native  of  Dexter 
and  for  six  years  was  identified  with  the  Co-opera- 
tive store,  Vjut  for  t)ie  past  thirteen  years  has  been 


WASSOOKEAti    WOOLEN    MILL. 


known  as  the  St.  Ronan's  woolen  mill  plant,  in  the 
management  of  which  for  the  past  few  years  his 
sons,  Angus  O.  and  David  O.,  have  been  associated. 
The  St.  Ronan's  is  a  four  set  mill  of  modern  type, 
e(iuipped  with  an  122  h.  p.  steam  plant,  and  fur- 
nishes eniijloyment  to  rising  100  hands. 

The  Wassookeag  Woolen  Co., 

of  which  Nathan  Daggett  is  president,  and  D.  H. 
Mudgett,  treasurer  and  manager,  is  an  important 
industrial  factor  of  Dexter.  The  plant  comprises  a 
three  story  factory  and  office  building  ad.ioining, 
all  of  brick,  with  a  storehouse  adj.icent  thereto,  to- 
gether with  the  necessary  eqiiiiunent  for  the  opera- 


street,  he  being  the  exclusive  agent  of  the  W.  L. 
Douglas  shoe  for  gentlemen  and  the  Queen  (Quality 
for  ladies.  D.  H.  Mudgett  is  a  native  of  Guilford, 
but  with  the  exception  of  brief  intervals  has  been 
identified  with  Dexter's  interests  for  many  years. 
Acquiring  a  publi.*  school  education,  he  devoted  his 
attention  to  pharmaceutics,  and  for  three  years  was 
ill  the  service  of  A.  M.  Robinson,  Jr.,  of  Bangor. 
Returning  to  Dexter  he  became  assistant  postmas- 
ter under  Simeon  Mudgett,  his  father,  upon  whose 
decease  he  became  postmaster,  serving  for  four 
years.  He  later  became  attached  to  the  Bangor 
Commercial  for  a  year,  returning  to  Dexter  and 
purchasing  the  Bridgliam  drug  store,  which  he  dis- 
posed of  to  E.  A.  Brewster  two  years  since. 


ao 


THE  EASTERN  GAZETTE 


Eldridge  Brothers. 

One  of  the  oldest  iiuhistrial  enterprises  of  Dexter 
is  the  planing'  and  niouldiny;'  mill  of  Eldridge  Bro- 
thers, Benjamin  and  8amnel.  whieh  since  the  decease 
of  the  former  in  Nov.  18114,  has  been  o])erated  solely 
l>y  the  surviving-  |)artner.  The  business  was  found- 
ed in  the  40s  by  C.  B.  Curtis,  who  sul)se(|uently  ad- 
mitted his  son  to  partnership.  The  Middlesex  Sati- 
net Mill,  on  Middlesex  place,  erected  early  in  the 
preceding  centnry,  formed  the  nucleus  of  the  plant, 
in  which  Ben.jamin  Eldridge  later  acquired  an  inter- 
est. His  brother,  the  present  proprietor,  sulise- 
((uently,  in  company  with  his  brother,  acquired  and 
operated  the  plant  under  the  title  quoted  above. 
The  plant  was  later  enlarged,  and  March  39,  1888, 
was  partiall.v  burned  with  no  insurance  to  cover 
the  loss.  The  property  was  at  once  rebuilt  but  was 
again  i)artially  destroyed  by  fire  Oct.  30,  1807,  with 
no  insurance  upon  the  property.  The  plant  was 
again  placed  in  first-class  condition  and  comprises 
at  present  a  two  story  mill  on  Middlesex  place  with 
an  office  and  storehouse  on  Grove  street,  the  mill 
l)eing  thoroughly  e(|uiiii)ed  for  the  turning  out  of 
l)uilders"  material  of  all  kind,  church  and  store  fix- 
tures being  a  specialty.  Employment  is  furnished 
to  from  eight  to  a  dozen  hands.  Apart  from  build- 
ers' sujjplies,  the  firm  deal  in  doors,  sash,  blinds, 
glass,  and  dressed  lumber.  Mr.  Eldridge  also  man- 
ufactures shipping  cases  for  the  woolen  mill  plants 
in  Dexter,  and  several  AVafprville  ujanufacturing 
])lants. 

Mr.  Eldi-idge  is  a  native  of  Dexter,  and  acquired 
the  trade  of  a  ship  .joiner  in  Cherryfield,  Kubse(|Uent- 
ly  engaging  thereat  in  Bath,  and  in  1853  went  to 
Jacksonville,  Fla.,  where  he  assisted  in  the  con- 
struction of  two  vessels.  He  served  as  a  member  of 
the  State  legislature  from  this  district  in  1877-8  as 
did  also  his  brother  in  1883-8,  and  the  former  is  at 
present  town  agent. 

Fay  &  Scott. 

The  largest  and  most  thoroughly  equipi)ed  me- 
chanical plant  in  western  Maine,  if  not  in  the  state, 
is  the  machine  shop  and  foundry  of  Pay  &  Scott, 
occupying  with  the  buildings  thereon  three  quarters 
of  an  acre  bordering  Spring  street  at  the  foot  of 
Free  street.  Mr.  Fay  is  a  native  of  Upton,  Mass.. 
and  acquired  a  thorough  knowledge  of  the  business 
by  long  experience  in  connection  with  establish- 
ments of  a  similar  character  in  Hopedale  and  Wor- 
cester, Mass.,  and  for  two  years  subsecpient  to  1881. 
in  connection  with  Nathaniel  Dustin's  niacliine  shop 
in  Dexter.  The  germ  of  the  present  plant  originated 
in  a  partnership  between  Mr.  Norman  H.  Fay  and 
Walter  Scott  in  1881,  under  the  title  of  Fay  &  Scott, 
which  was  dissolved  in  18rifi,  bv  the  retirement  of 


the  .iunior  partner,  since  which  pei'iod  Mr.  Fay  has 
contlucted  its  affairs  with  the  afile  assistance  of 
his  son,  W.  L.  Fay,  who  in  addition  to  the  practical 
knowledge  attained  in  connection  with  the  Dexter 
plant  is  e(|uijiped  with  a  sjjeeial  training  olitained 
at  the  Massachusetts  Distitute  of  Technology.  The 
Dexter  plant  in  UIOl,  was  incorporated  as  a  close 
corporation.  The  seedling  plant  was  located  in  a 
portion  of  the  Dustin  block  until  1884,  when  the 
jsresent  jilant.  since  enlarged  and  improved,  was  in- 
stalled, and  which  is  comprised  in  a  machine  shop 
300x50.  and  a  foundry  l;-i0x80.  The  former  is  divided 
by  a  tower  jirojection  enclosing  the  main  entrance 
with  a  .iutting  alcnve  oiqiosite,  ampl>-  lighted  ujion 
three  sides,  and  within  which  are  the  general  offices. 
To  the  left  of  the  main  entrance  is  an  erecting  shop 
and  tool  room,  with  a  lathe  department  to  the  right 


W.   L.   FAY. 

with  two  adjoining  wings,  the  first  enclosing  plan- 
ing and  milling  deijartments,  and  the  other  polisli- 
ing  and  casting  storage  rooms.  The  foundry  in- 
cludes brass  working  and  moulding  apartments, 
with  a  commodins  flask  shed  adjoining.  The  plant 
is  equipped  for  the  turning  out  of  any  class  of  ma- 
chine work,  particularly  machine  tools,  lathes  and 
special  sardine  and  (juarry  machinery,  as  also  brass 
work,  its  product  being  in  demand  all  over  the 
country.  Apart  therefrom  special  attention  is 
given  to  repair  work,  as  also  steam  and  hot  water 
fitting.  Employment  is  furnished  ninety-five  me- 
chanics of  all  grades,  the  weekly  pay  roll  approxi- 
mating flOOO.  Mr.  N.  H.  Fay  is  one  of  Dexter's  pub- 
lic spirited   citizens   and  an  advocate  of  all  public 


THE  EASTERN  (tAZETTE 


21 


improveiiieiits.  He  is*  a  ivsidiMit  directoi'  of  the 
Wateiville  Trust  Co.  mul  was  a  representative 
to  the  state  letrislatuie  in  i;ili(i-l 

Waterville  Trust  Co. -Dexter  Branch. 

One  of  the  most  siiec-essfiil  tiuanoial  institutions 
in  Dexter  is  the  l)ranch  of  the  Waterville  Trust  Co., 
established  April  I1.18ii(S.  and  located  in  the  Ireland 
block,  Grove  street,  the  i)arent  conjpany  having' 
been  incorporated  in  IS!i:',,  and  capitalized  at 
$100,000.  The  Dexter  bi-anch  is  officered  by  S. 
M.  Leiffhton  as  cashier,  with  N.  H.  Fay,  C.  P. 
McOrillis,  S.  L.   Small,  and   F.  H.  Hayes  as  resident 


-directors.  The  iiiterior  fixtiives  are  of  polished 
hardwood,  the  hanking  counter  being  surmounted 
by  a  bronze  lattice  frame,  the  whole  capped  by 
a  steel  ceiling,  and  its  quarters  equipped  with 
a  burglar  and  tire  proof  safe.  The  premises 
being  ui)on  the  ground  floor  are  conveniently 
accessible  for  business  puri)Oses.  A  general  bank- 
ing and  trust  business  is  transacted,  deposits  being 
received  subject  to  cheek,  with  a  savings  depart- 
ment in  which  Si  per  cent,  interest  is  allowed  on 
deposits.  The  company  discounts  ai)proved  pai)er. 
loans  money  on  secured  collateral,  executes  trusts 


of  every  character,  and  acts  as  transfer  agent,  reg- 
istrar, and  trustee  under  mortgages.  The  Dexter 
branch  presents  an  exceptionally  fine  showing  for 
the  six  years  of  its  existence.  Its  demand  deposits 
subject  to  check  as  shown  by  the  bank  examiner's 
statement,  Oct.  25,  ]!ll);!,  amounted  to  *40,858,45, 
divisioned  among  Ki:!  deiMisitors,  with  a  savings  de- 
Ijosit  aggregating  •'S'22."),.">(;(i,o()  distributed  among  i94 
depositors,  the  total  business  having  since  been  in- 
creased to  over  $;JOO,000.  This,  in  conjunction  with 
three  other  branches  and  the  home  oflHee,  include  a 
total  deposit  of  il,12!l,428.4(),  with  undivided  profits 
of  •t49,051.01  and  a  #4,000  surplus. 

S.  M.  Leighton,  Cashier  of  the  Dexter  branch, 
was  born  in  Dexter  Sept.  10,  1853,  and  after  acquir- 
ing a  public  school  education  l)ecauie  associated 
with  his  lather  in  the  grocery  business.  In  1880,  in 
company  with  .1.  W.  Haines,  under  the  title  of 
Leigliton  &  Haines,  they  succeeded  to  the  business 
established  by  the  elder  Leighton,  and  in  1898  he  re- 
tired therefrom  to  acce])t  his  jiresent  position. 

Charles  F.  Bean, 

mason,  contractor  and  l)uilder,  whose  office  and  res- 
idence is  at  4  School  street,  was  born  in  Dexter,  and, 
subse(pient  to  a  public  school  education,  acquired 
his  trade   of  the  well    known   firm   of  Standish  & 


CHARLES   F.    BKAX. 

Woodbury  of  Boston,  where  he  remained  for  ten 
years.  For  the  past  twenty  years  he  has  been  lo- 
cated in  Dexter,  and  as  the  leading  liriek  mason  has 
had  to  do  largely  with  work  of  that  character,  in- 
cluding the  additional  story  to  the  bank  block  com- 


23 


THE  EASTERN  GAZETTE 


pleted  a  few  years  since.  Mr.  Bean  makes  a  speci- 
alty of  boiler  and  fireplace  work,  though  prepared 
at  all  times  to  contract  for  and  execute  any  charac- 
ter of  brick  work,  either  in  the  erection  of  buildings 
or  the  laying  of  foundations,  whether  in  or  out  of 
town,  and  to  furnish  estimates  in  connection  there- 
with. 

H.  A.  Blethen. 

In  the  general  retrospection  of  a  town  like  Dexter 
one  would  hardly  anticipate  encountering  such  an 
elaborate  jewelry  establishment  as  that  of  H.  A. 
Blethen,  40  Main  street,  nor  do  external  indications 
presage  the  wonderful  transformation  that  greets 
the  visitor  within.     Though  the  display  within  the 


recess  of  the  elaborate  plate  glass  front  of  the  build- 
ing is  attractive  enough  to  call  the  attention  of  the 
l^asser-by.  yet  within  an  air  of  refinement  pervades 
the  premises  which  with  its  highly  polished  show 
cases,  filled  with  brilliant  novelties  emblematic  of 
the  jeweler's  art,  that  reflect  the  myriadical  rays  of 
jewelistic  shelf  settings,  jiresents  a  scene  bordering 
entraneement.  The  goods  thus  displayed  embrace 
nearly  everything  known  to  the  jewelers  art,  includ- 
ing gold,  silver,  and  plated  ware  of  every  variety, 
from  separate  pieces  of  elegant  design  to  a  complete 
side  board  service,  with  the  best  grades  of  watches, 
clocks,  and  personal  novelties  of  all  kinds,  and  a 
full  line  of  optical  goods.  Mr.  Blethen,  who  is  a 
native  of  Dover,  Maine,  has  been  identified  with  the 
business  for  nearly  half  a  century,  and  with  the  ex- 


ception of  brief  business  experiences  along  these 
same  lines  in  Nevada  and  California,  been  located 
in  Dexter,  practically  upon  the  same  site  whereon 
stands  the  modern  business  structure  erected  by  him 
some  six  years  since  and  within  which  he  is  located, 
and  wherein  apart  from  the  sale  of  jewelistic  novel- 
ties he  makes  a  specialty  of  repairing  watches, 
clocks,  and  jewelry  at  all  times.  For  the  past  fif- 
teen years  Mr.  Blethen  has  been  ably  assisted  by 
his  son,  Ralph  C.  Blethen,  who  is  also  an  expert 
optician,  being  a  graduate  of  the  N.  Y.  Optical  Col- 
lege of  New  York  city,  Spencer's  Optical  Institute 
of  the  same  city,  and  Foster's  school  of  Optics  of 
Boston,  with  private  jjractice  under  W.  H.  Cjilbert, 
M.  D.,  of  N.  Y.,  L.  L.  Ferguson,  eye  specialist  of  N, 
Y.,  and  E.  8.  Foster,  M.  D.,  of  Boston,  thereby  en- 
abling him  to  at  once  determine  by  examination 
the  proper  artificial  remedy  required  by  those  af- 
flicted with  defective  vision,  and  to  mount  and  ad- 
just glasses  to  flt  individual  cases,  a  fact  which  is  of 
essential  importance  to  those  whose  visonary  or- 
gans are  in  any  way  impaired. 

E.  A.  Brewster  &  Son. 

One  of  the  finest  drug  stores  in  this  section  is  that 
of  E.  A.  and  (George  E.  Brewster,  father  and  son,  the 
latter   having  charge  thereof,  located  in  the  Bank 


KLMKR    A.    BRKW.STER. 

block.  Main  street.  In  general  apijointment  it  is 
the  equal  of  any  similar  establishment,  even  in  the 
larger  cities,  the  stock  comprising  pure  drugs,  chem- 
icals, medicinal  prei>arations  of  all  kinds,  fancy  and 
toilet  articles,  stationery  and  school  supplies.     An 


THE  EASTERN  GAZETTE 


23 


elaborate  prescription  (lepartiiieiit  is  in  charge  of 
the  junior  partner,  a  refjistered  pharmacist,  and 
who  for  many  years  was  an  attai-lie.  and  for  some 
time  practically  in  charj^e  of  the  store,  under  the 
former  proprietor,  whom  the  present  firm  succeeded 
two  years  since. 

Elmer  A.  Brewster  is  a  native  of  Parkman,  Me.; 
coming  to  Dexter  when  21,  and  engaging  in  the  meat 
business  as  junior  partner  of  the  firm  of  Jones  & 
Brewster,  retiring  therefrom  in  five  years,  when  he 
went  to  Boston  to  engage  in  the  restaurant  business. 
Six  years  later  he  returned  to  Dexter  and  entered 
the  service  of  his  brother,  W.  E.  Brewster,  with 
whom  he  subsequently  formed  a  co-jiartnership  un- 
der the  title  of  W.  E.  Brewster  &  Co.  In  1903  he 
was  elected  representative  to  the  state  legislature. 


GKORCiK    K.    BKKWSTER. 

He  is  a  meniljer  and  chairman  of  the  Republican 
town  committee  and  a  member  of  the  county  com- 
uiittee.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Blue  Lodge  and 
Chapter  of  the  F.  and  A.  M.,  a  Sir  Knight  of  St. 
John's  Commandery.  of  Bangor,  and  a  Noble  of  the 
Kora  Temple,  H,  C).  M.  S.,  as  also  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  Grand  Lodge,  serving  two  years  as  a  dis- 
trict deputy  thereof. 

W.  E.  Brewster  &  Co. 

Practically  the  largest  wholesale  and  retail  gro- 
cery, flour  and  feed  firm  in  Dexter,  comprising  the 
brothers,  AV.  E.  and  E.  A.  Brewster,  occupy  the 
street  floor  and  basement  of  two  stores  in  the  Dus- 
tin  block,  33-5  Main  street.     The  former  is  utilized 


as  a  retail  sales  department,  with  storage  facilities 
in  the  rear,  the  two  dnitartments  being  divisioned 
by  the  general  office.  The  adjoining  store,  added 
within  a  year,  is  devoted  to  general  storage,  with 
two  additional  storehouses  adjoining  and  connected 
by  a  spur  with  the  M.  C.  R.  R..  the  storehouses  hav- 
ing a  combined  capacity  of  several  thousand  bushels 
of  grain  and  mill  feed,  and  several  carloads  of  flour, 
the  latter  being  i)urcliased  directly  from  the  millers. 
In  groceries,  the  firm  handle  everything  of  essential 
importance,  inclusive  of  bottled  and  canned  goods 
in  variety. 

Both  nieniliers  of  the  firm  are  natives  of  Parkman, 
the  senior  migrating  to  Dexter  when  seventeen  years 
of  age,  where  he  obtained  his  first  mercantile  exper- 
ience in  a  two  years  service  in  the  i)rovision  busi- 
ness, retiring  therefrom  to  engage  in  the  restaurant 
business  in  Boston,  returning  to  Dexter  two  years 
later.  He  then  entered  the  service  of  C.  M.  Sawyer, 
a  flour  and  feed  merchant,  whose  interests  Mr.  Brew- 
ster purchased  in  188-,  and  in  188li  removed  to  his 
present  ([uarters,  having  for  storage  purposes  a  por- 
tion of  the  (Tazette  building,  which  he  later  relin- 
quished. Mr.  Brewster  is  president  of  the  Savings 
Bank,  vice  president  of  the  First  National  Bank, 
director  of  the  Dexter  Electric  Light  Co.,  and  an 
honored  member  of  several  fraternal  societies. 

Miss  R.  A.  Curtis. 

The  fancy  goods,  niillinery  and  notion  store  of 
Miss  R.  A.  Curtis,  44  Main  street,  established  some 
six  years  since,  has  become  a  fixture  with  Dexter's 
feminine  shopping  iniblic.  Miss  Curtis  maintained 
a  similiar  establishment  in  New  Sharon  for  many 
years  prior  to  coming  to  Dexter  and  the  experience 
thus  attained  proved  of  value,  as  is  attested  in  the 
selection  of  such  novelties  as  are  ijleasing  to  her 
patrons,  regarding  quality  and  price,  comprising 
millinery,  hosiery,  gloves  and  seasonable  under- 
wear, toilet  goods,  embroideries,  wrappers  and  the 
hundred  or  more  articles  classed  as  notions,  all  es- 
sential to  the  convenience  and  necessity  of  the  fair 
sex.  In  fact,  it  is  just  such  an  estalilishment  and 
stocked  with  just  such  goods  in  variety  as  would 
please  the  most  (capricious. 

Warren  H.  Carr, 

whose  hardware  establishment,  with  a  storehouse 
nearby,  is  at  52  Main  street,  is  a  native  of  Dexter, 
and,  with  the  exception  of  a  brief  interval,  has 
been  identified  with  his  present  liusiness  since  1870, 
at  which  period  he  became  a  partner  of  E.  A.  Ayer, 
under  the  title  of  Ayer  i  Carr,  the  latter  selling  to 
his  imrtner  a  year  later.  Six  months  later  Mr.  Carr 
bought  out  Mr.  Ayer,  continuing  the  business  since 
alone.     Light  and  heavy  hardware  of  every  charac- 


24 


THE  EASTERN  GAZETTE 


ter.  including  suiiijlirs  in  detail  for  the  milliuan, 
builder,  blacksmith,  iiiiicliiiiist,  ])aiiiter,  in  fact,  the 
mechanic  of  whatever  class,  toarether  with  bar  iron, 
steel  and  carriage  stock,  constitute  the  essential 
features  of  trade.  Apart  therefrom  he  deals  in  cut- 
lery, sportsmen's  goods,  inclusive  of  fishing  tackle, 
guns,  revolvers  and  ammunition,  and  in  addition 
carries  a  full  line  of  wall  papers.  He  also  deals  in 
lime  and  cement,  with  a  storehouse  of  sufficient 
cajjaeity  for  the  storage  of  a  large  quantity  thereof. 
Mr.  Carr  has  been  a  trustee  of  the  Savings  Bank 
for  fifteen  years,  and  for  several  vears  was  a  director 


.J.  K.  Edes,  in  (ruilford  in  185H,  the  senior  meml)er 
of  the  lu'esent  firm  l)ec(jnn'ng  idoititied  therewith  in 
18T9.  The  latter  still  continues  to  look  after  the 
Guilford  business,  while  T.  K.  Edes  attends  to  the 
interests  of  tlie  Dexter  establishment.  The  elder 
Edes  was  widely  known  as  a  merchant  of  sterling 
integrity  and  commendable  business  methods,  and 
the  Dexter  firm  have  ingratiated  themselves  in  the 
l)nl)lic  confidence  by  a  maintainance  of  these  funda- 
mental luisiness  principles.  Their  stock  comi>rises 
all  the  latest  novelties  in  dress  faljrics,  in  silks,  sat- 
ins and   wcKilens,  together  with  linings,  trimmings. 


KDKS  BKOrHKKS    .S'1-(|RK,  !l  MAI.\   SIKKKT. 


in  tile  Fii-st  Xational  l-iank.  For  the  past  twenty 
years  he  has  been  tr(^a,snrcr  (if  the  Dexter  school 
fund. 

Bdes  Brothers, 

dry  and  fancy  gnods  dealers,  '.)  JIain  street,  succeed- 
ing E.  N.  Derry  some  four  years  since,  are  among 
the  recent  converts  to  Dexter's  business  world.  The 
tirni  is  composed  of  the  brotljers,  W.  W.  and  T.  K. 
Edes,  under  a  eo-partnershii)  formed  in  l^d'i,  in 
succession  to  the  business  founded  by  their  father. 


fancy  gdcids  and  snjall  wares,  f ui'nishiiigs  which  in- 
cludes liosiery,  gloves  and  seasonable  underwear, 
with  a  full  line  of  skirts,  wrappers  and  shirt  waists, 
introduced  simultaneously  with  tlie  leading  metro- 
politan estalilishments  of  similiar  chariicterization, 
all  daintil\' an'a.nged  rm-  read.N'  ins|iecriiin.  Within 
a  tidil\'  aiTaiiged  aiiartment  in  the  rear  are  to  be 
found  a  full  line  of  ladies"  tailor-made  .iackets  and 
suits,  with  furs  and  fur  garments  in  tlie  season 
thereof.  As  a  whole  the  Edes  Brothers  maintain  a 
dry  and  fancy  goods  emporium  creditable  alike  to 
themselves  and  the  liusiness  element  of  Dexter. 


THE  EASTERN  GAZETTE 


25 


H.  W.  Fish. 

The  mercantile  interests  of  Dexter  enilirace  pret- 
ty imich  all  branches  of  bvisiness,  including  a  car- 
riage and  sleigh  mart  owned  and  conducted  by  H. 
W.  Fish,  whose  repository  and  storehouses  are  both 
on  Church  street,  the  former  of  two  stories,  30  x  40, 
with  an  office  and  harness  sales  department  annexed 
sufficing  for  headtiuarters,  and  the  storehouse,  30  x 
00,  nearer  the  railroad  station,  serving  as  a  reposi- 
tory for  surplus  stock,  the  latter  having  been  erected 
some  six  years  ago.  The  business  was  established 
by  S.  D.  Fish,  father  of  the  present  iirojjrietor,  more 
than  twenty-five  years  since.  The  son  succeeded 
thereto  on  the  decease  of  the  elder  in  1894.  Mr.  Fish 
is  a  native  of  Dexter  and  for  eleven  years  prior  to 
assuming  control  of  his  present  business  carried  on 
a  successful  harness  and  saddlery  business  with  a 
location  on  Main  street.  While  Mr.  Fish  deals  in 
harness  and  horse  clothing  to  some  extent,  his  main 
reliance  is  in  the  sale  of  fine  carriages  and  sleighs, 
the  former  comprising  light  driving  wagons,  run- 
abouts, surreys,  Ijike  wagons,  and  in  fact  most  every- 
thing in  the  line  of  light  road  vehicles,  single  or 
double,  with  or  without  tops,  rubber  tired  and  other- 
wise, as  also  sleighs  of  the  most  modern  build. 
Those  seeking  such  will  find  it  worth  their  while  to 
inspect  the  stock  on  display  at  tlie  repository,  as 
they  are  more  than  likely  to  find  sonietliing  to  their 
purpose,  at  a  price  comijatible  with  the  vehicle  of 
their  choice. 

Cyrus  Foss. 

The  sub.iect  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Alfred, 
Me.,  Oct.  17,  1823,  his  parents  shortly  after  moving 
to  Benton  Falls.  He  was  educated  in  tlie  public 
school,  including  a  term  in  the  high  school,  and  later 
actiuired  the  trade  of  a  carpenter.  He  came  to  Dex- 
ter in  184-2,  plying  his  trade  until  184G,  when  he  be- 
came a  member  of  the  firm  of  W.  .Jewett  &  Co.,  foun- 
drymen,  iind  later,  in  company  with  Ansel  I^ibby, 
established  a  tinsmithing  and  kitchen  furnishing 
business,  which  continued  until  1857,  when  Mr.  Foss 
purchased  his  partner's  interest,  and  enlarging  the 
premises  on  Main  sti-eet  where  he  had  located,  con- 
tinued therein  until  1887,  when  Dana  Crockett  be- 
came a  partner.  Mr.  Foss  relinquished  his  interest 
in  the  business  in  June,  1800,  sinc^e  which  time  he 
has  led  a  retired  life. 

Mr.  Foss  has  always  taken  an  active  interest  in 
town  affairs  and  has  served  as  a  member  of  its  Board 
of  Selectmen  two  years,  as  also  town  treasurer  one 
term,  and  as  a  Representative  to  the  State  Legis- 
lature in  1873-3.  He  was  one  of  the  promoters  of 
the  Dexter  and  Newport  R.  R.,  of  which  for  several 
years  he  was  a  director,  and  later  became  interested 
in  its  extension  to  Dover.     He  has  been  a  director 


of  the  First  National  Bank  since  1877  and  for  the 
past  three  years  its  president,  and  is  also  a  director 
of  the  Dexter  Electric  Light  and  Power  Company. 
In  1852  he  was  married  to  Miss  Sarah  M.,  daughter 
of   Amos  AI)bott,  their  onlv  surviving  child,  Mrs. 


CYRl'S    FflSS. 

Alice  Springall,  being  a  resident  of  Maiden,  Mass. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Foss  celebrated  their  golden  marriage 
anniversary  in  November,  1902,  both  being  hand- 
somely remembered  l)y  their  many  friends.  Mrs. 
Foss  had  been  an  invalid  for  several  years,  her  de- 
cease occuriug  Feb.  1,  190:1. 

F.  J.  Gerry  &  Co. 

The  firm  of  F.  .1.  l^erry  i;  Co.,  comprising  the  for- 
mer, in  company  witli  Walter  Gordon,  are  not  only 
widely  known  to  the  Dexter  public  and  that  of  its 
vicinity,  but  that  of  the  commercial  world  at  large. 
This  firm  maintain  a  grocery,  flour,  grain  and  mill 
feed  establishment,  the  equal  of  any  sinn'liar  busi- 
ness in  this  section,  located  in  the  Dustin  block, 
couibined  with  an  extensive  creamery  business,  with 
a  wholesale  branch  establishment  in  Boston.  The 
firm's  i)resent  Ijusiness  enterprises  are  the  outgrowth 
of  a  limited  creamery  business  established  liy  Mr. 
Gerry  in  Garhind  some  sixteen  years  since.  Mr.  Ger- 
ry being  the  second  to  place  sweet  cream  upon  the 
marliet  or  to  shii)  the  same  out  of  the  state.  The 
business  rapidly  expanded,  and,  from  a  single  team 
collection  with  a  tlistribution  of  $300  per  month 
among  the  producers,  has  developed  into  a  business 
requiring  the  service  of  several  teams,  latterly  fur- 
nished by  the  jiroducers,  among  whom  is  disbursed 


26 


THE  EASTERN  GAZETTE 


upward  of  4^20,00(1  per  luoiith.  Eight  years  ago  l\[r. 
Gerry  transferred  his  Ijusiness  to  Dexter,  locating 
in  the  adjoining  i^reniises  to  those  at  present  occu- 
pied, Walter  Gordon  becoming  a  partner  in  the  en- 
terprise. Shortly  thereafter  the  necessity  of  in- 
creased facilities  became  ajjparent  and  a  creamery 
was  erected  upon  the  shore  of  tlie  lake  opjjosite  the 
depot,  ecjuipped  with  separators,  pasteurizers  and 
other  machinery  of  modern  type,  witli  an  adjoining 
ice  house  of  2000  tons  capacity.  In  addition  thereto 
the  firm  have  creameries  in  Belfast,  Hucksport  and 
Corinna,  ecpially  as  well  equipped.  The  grocery 
and  mill  feed  department  in  the  Dustin  block  was 
established  about  six  jears  since,  and  connected 
therewitli  is  a  storehouse  paralied  by  a  spur  of  the 
BI.  C.  R.  R.,  and  another  near  tlie  depot,  the  com- 
bined capacity  of  whicli  is  about  fifteen  carloads  of 
flour,  grain  and  mill  feed. 

Gershom  1,.  Gould, 

Truckman,  hay  ])resser  and  sliippei-  of  baled  hay, 
whose  office  and  residence  is  at  S.")  Main  St..  is  a  na- 
tive of  Charleston,  but  has  been  identified  with 
Dexter's  interests  for  over  a  tldrd  of  a  century. 
Mr.  Gould  not  only  does  heavy  trucking,  including 
that  of  the  Fay  &  Scott  machine  shop,  but  has  a 


HAY   PRESS  IK    OPKUATIOX. 

building  equipped  with  two  modern  hay  presses  of 
a  combined  capacity  of  from  20  to  25  tons  per  day. 
apart  from  which  he  is  an  extensive  purchaser  of 
hay,  which  he  presses  and  ships  on  his  own  account. 
He  has  a  storehouse  of  1,000  tons  capacity,  parallel- 
ing the  M.  C.  R.  R.  in  Dexter,  his  shipments  aggre- 
gating 4,000  tons  annually. 

C.  H.  Hayden. 

For  decorative  purposes,  either  for  weddings,  fu- 


nerals or  public  or  private  receptions,  there  is  noth- 
ing more  appropriate  than  the  artistic  grouping  of 
floricultural  products  at  the  hands  of  a  trained 
florist.  Charles  H.  Hayden,  whose  conservatories 
are  at  the  junction  of  Main  street  and  Railroad  aven- 
ue, is  prepared  to  render  service  of  this  character 
and  furnish  special  designs  for  any  occasion,  partic 
ularly  for  funerals.  Mr.  Hayden  is  a  native  of  Cor- 
inna but  has  been  a  resident  of  Dexter  since  boy- 
hood. He  first  Ijecame  connected  with  the  Maine 
Central  railroad  in  18(i7asa  foreman,  which  position 
he  retained  for  many  years  creditably  to  hinjself 
and  the  corporation.  For  the  past  eleven  years  he 
has  become  better  known  to  the  public  as  a  florist 
and  gardener.  H  is  conservatories,  three  in  number, 
with  a  convenient  office  and  designing  room  in  con- 
nection, requiring  some  .">,000  feet  of  glass  in  their 
covering,  are  of  modern  design  with  even  tempera- 
ture facilities  for  the  projiagation  of  such  floricul- 
tural products  as  are  in  demand,  which  includes  the 
various  varieties  of  roses,  carnations,  ferns,  smilax 
and  potted  plants  of  varied  character.  Mr.  Hay- 
den's  services  as  a  floriculturist  have  been  in  de- 
mand upon  many  jjuljlic  and  private  occasions,  not 
only  in  Dexter,  but  for  many  miles  around,  and 
though  at  times  it  has  required  considerable  inge- 
nuity in  decorative  arrangement,  the  work  has  been 
invariably  satisfactory  to  all  concerned,  and  es- 
pecially so  in  connection  with  Easter  festivals  by 
the  churches.  In  addition  to  floriculture  Mr.  Hay- 
den pays  special  deference  to  the  propagation  of 
seedling  plants,  pai'ticularly  lettuce,  of  which  he 
produces  thousands  of  heads  each  season.  He  also 
propagates  and  has  for  sale  all  the  leading  varieties 
of  annual  seedlings  for  Hower  and  vegetable  gardens. 

J.  Willis  Haines, 

The  present  town  clerk  t>f  Dexter,  and  who  has  ac- 
ceptably filled  that  position  since  May  1,  18!i3,  is  a 
native  of  Dexter,  and  has  been  long  and  favorably 
known  to  Dexterites  in  connection  with  the  grocery 
trade,  having  in  1880,  in  company  with  8.  M.  Leigh- 
ton,  under  the  title  of  Leighton  &  Haines,  succeeded 
to  the  business  of  Joshua  W.  Leighton,  and  then, 
as  now,  occupying  the  premises  at  31  Main  street. 
This  partnership  continued  until  181I8,  when  Mr. 
Leighton  retired  to  accept  the  cashiership  of  the 
Waterville  Trust  Company,  since  which  j^eriod  Mr. 
Haines,  who  is  and  has  been  agent  for  the  Am- 
erican Express  Company  since  1883,  has  conduct- 
ed the  business  alone.  His  stock  comprises  choice 
family  and  staple  groceries  of  all  kinds  and  prac- 
tically the  largest  line  of  china,  glass,  crockery, 
stoneware  and  lamp  goods  to  l)e  found  in  town. 
All  goods  are  delivered  |)romptly  in  any  part  of 
Dexter  village. 


THE  EASTERN  GAZETTE 


27 


E.  H.  Jones  &  Co. 

Practically  the  oldest  established  meat  market  in 
Dexter  is  that  of  E.  H.  Jones  &  Co.,  3  (Trove  St. 
Mr.  Jones  is  a  native  of  Athens,  Me.,  and  came  to 
Dexter  nearly  a  third  of  a  century  ago,  and  later,  in 
company  with  E.  A.  Brewster,  enfjaged  in  this  busi- 
ness, locatiuir  at  tliat  time  at  the  lower  end  of  Main 
street.  This  partnershii)  existed  fur  about  six  years 
when  Mr.  Brewster  retired.  Since  that  period,  un- 
til about  two  years  ago.  when  H.  M.  McKusick  be- 
came a  partner,  Mr.  Jones  conducted  the  business 
alone.  The  present  location  was  estal)lished  some 
ten  years  ago.     Tlie  firm  deals  in  fresh,  salt,  smoked 


K.    H.    -JON'KS. 

and  corned  meats  of  all  kinds,  with  poultry  and 
game  in  its  season,  as  also  shell  fish  of  all  kinds. 
The  firm  purchase  beef  largely  on  the  hoof  from  the 
neighboring  farmers,  and  do  their  own  slaughter- 
ing, liaving  a  fully  e(|uipi)ed  building  for  the  pur- 
pose upon  the  outskirts  of  tlie  town,  and  which  also 
has  facilities  for  the  i)reparation  and  manufacture 
of  sausage  and  smoked  meats.  Their  premises  on 
Grove  street  are  also  supplied  with  ample  cold 
storage  facilities  for  the  proper  care  of  meats.  In 
addition  they  carry  a  full  line  of  staple  and  fancy 
groceries,  which  includes  canned  and  liottled  goods 
and  relishes. 

Wesley  H.  Judkins. 

Wesley  H.  Judkins,  treasurer  of  the  Dexter  Savings 
Bank,  was  born  in  Monmouth,  Me.,  and  was  ed- 
ucated in  the  public  schools  and  Monmouth  acad- 


emy. He  first  entered  uiHrcantile  lifn  as  a  member 
of  the  clerical  department  of  the  Twitchell-Champlin 
Company  of  Portland,  remaining  eight  years,  and 
then  entering  the  service  of  Emery  Waterhouse  & 
Co.  in  a  similar  capacity.  From  thence  he  came  to 
Dexter  in  1886,  and  established  a  boot  and  shoe 
store,  which  he  later  disposed  of,  and  ac,(pjired  the 
insurance  business  of  H.  C.  Parsons.  Mr.  Judkins 
conducts  a  general  insurance  business,  representing 


WKSLKY    H.    .rniKINS. 

the  leading  fire  companies,  as  also  the  Fidnjity 
(Casualty  comjjauy,  and  the  Connecticut  Mutual 
Life  Insurance  company.  Mr.  Judkins  succeeded 
A.  F.  Bradbury  as  treasurer  of  the  Dexter  Savings 
bank  in  1807.  He  was  for  four  years  a  member  of  the 
Board  of  Selectmen,  and  is  at  iiresent  a  member  of 
the  Board  of  Water  Commissioners,  as  also  of  Ma- 
sonic bodies. 

Dexter  Steam  I/aundry. 

One  of  the  most  essential  factors  to  the  general 
cleanliness,  if  not  health,  of  a  community  is  a  laun- 
dry establishment  such  as  is  represented  by  the 
Dexter  Steam  Laundry,  14  Grove  St.,  of  which  for 
the  past  two  years  C.  A.  Stevens  has  been  proi)rie- 
tor  and  manager.  Every  character  of  laundry  work, 
inclusive  of  the  most  delicate  fineries,  receives 
promi)t  and  careful  attention,  the  establishment 
Ijeing  equipped  witli  washing,  ironing  and  polish- 
ing machines  of  the  most  apjiroved  pattern.  The 
management,  being  dejiendent  on  the  public  for 
patronage,  are  painstaking  with  all  work  entrusted 
to  their  charge,  the  result  being  an  ever  increasing 
business  which  furnishes  employment  to  a  number 
of  hands,  as  also  the  service  of  a  collectifui  and  de- 
livery team.  Jlr.  Stevens,  who  is  a  native  of  Pitts- 
field,  Me.,  has  had  an  experience  of  fifteen  years  in 
laundry  work,  which  is  a  sufficient  guarantee  of 
general  excellence  in  the  business.  His  first  know- 
ledge of  the  business  was  acijuired  in  a  five  years 


28 


THE  EASTERN  GAZETTE 


connection  with  the  Belfast  steam  laundry,  which, 
in  association  with  his  brother,  he  managed  a  great- 
er portion  of  the  time.  Pi'om  thence  he  went  to 
Massachusetts  and  assumed  charge  of  the  Winches- 
ter steam  laundry,  from  which  he  in  a  few  months 
retired  to  travel  on  the  road  estaljlishing  plants  of 
this  character,  later  assuming  charge  of  a  Haverhill, 
Mass.,  laundry,  coming  to  Dexter,  as  previously 
stated,  about  two  years  ago.  By  prompt,  courteous 
and  satisfactory  service  he  has  succeeded  in  estab- 
lishing a  lucrative  business. 

The  I^owell  Clothing  Co., 

Located  at  of)  Main  St.,  which  is  in  succession  to 
the  business  of  P.  L.  Lowell  and  of  which  for  the 
past  four  years  Hari'y  E.  Hale  has  been  proprietor. 


HAKKV    K.    HAI,K. 

is  a  thoroughly  reliable  clothing  and  gents"  furnish- 
ing house.  Mr.  Hale  is  a  native  of  Dexter,  acquired 
his  education  in  its  public  schools,  and  prior  to  his 
assumption  olL-the  business  was  identified  therewith 
under  its  former  management  for  fifteen  years,  and 
is  consequently  familiar  with  its  requirements,  and 
those  of  his  patrons.  The  stock  comprises  enough 
and  more  than  enough  to  meet  the  denmnds  of  those 
desiring  ready-made  garments,  whatever  the  age  or 
avoirdupois  of  the  customer,  and  which  are  to  be 
found  in  suits  and  top  coats  of  the  latest  fashiona- 
ble make.  Apart  therefrom  Mr.  Hale  deals  in  hats, 
caps,  gloves,  seasonable  underwear  and  furnishings 
of  all  kinds,  as  also  trunks,  bags,  and  traveling 
equipage.  With  the  exception  of  footwear  Mr.  Hale 
can  array  his  patrons  from  head  to  foot  with  inner 


and  outer  raiment  for  any  occasion,  with  a  grip  and 
umbrella  included.  In  addition  he  is  prepared  to 
furnish  clothing  to  measure  and  to  guarantee  satis- 
faction therein. 

George  I/.  Morrison. 

That  Dexter's  business  interests  are  expanding  is 
evidenced  by  the  fact  that  within  the  past  few  years 
many  new  firms  have  acquired  a  birthright,  all  of 
which  are  apparently  prosperous.  Among  such  is 
the  department  store  of  George  L.  Morrison,  15  Main 
St.  Mr.  Morrison  is  a  native  of  Tillicoultry,  Scot- 
land, and  a  brother  of  John  L.  and  William  Morri- 
son of  the  Morrison  woolen  nulls.  For  more  than  a 
dozen  years  he  was  identified  as  a  sultordinate  in  the 
Hai'tland  woolen  uiills,  a  jjortion  of  this  period  op- 
erating a  canling   mill.     In   18S!(   he  went   to   Ells- 


UKOKUK   L.    MORRISON. 

worth.  Me.,  and  f>i)erated  a  wt)olen  mill  on  his  own 
account,  disposing  of  the  same  about  three  years 
since,  and  returning  to  Dexter  operated  a  rag  pick- 
er and  grist  mill.  About  three  years  ago  he  entered 
business  for  himself  and  opened  a  department  store 
in  the  Pierce  building  on  Main  street.  Two  years 
later  he  transferred  the  business  to  his  present 
commodious  (piarters.  Mr.  Morrison's  stock  com- 
prises, apart  from  dry  and  fancy  goods  of  an  up  to 
date  standard,  ladies'  and  gents"  underwear,  ho- 
siery, bric-a-ljrac,  embroideries  and  small  ware  nov- 
elties of  all  kinds,  as  also  a  varied  assortment  of 
woolen,  cotton  and  muslin  remnants.  It  is  Mr. 
Morrison's  intention  to  add  other  popular  lines 
from  time  to  time,  with  a  view  of  making  the  estab- 
lishment a  thoroughly  modern  department  empo- 
rium. 


THE  EASTERN  GAZETTE 


39 


Meigs  &  Co. 

Tlif  firm  of  Meifj:s  and  Co.,  couiiirisiiif^  X.  E.  and 
F.  D.  Meigii,  clothiers  and  men's  outfitters,  38  Main 
St.,  during  the  twenty-nine  years  since  its  establish- 
ment in  Dexter,  and  with  which  N.  E.  Meigs,  resi- 
dent proprietor,  has  been  identified  for  the  past 
nineteen  years,  with  ten  years  experience  in  the 
same  line  in  Phrnnix.  R.  1..  has  aciiuired  the  reputa- 
tion of  dealing  in  strictly  first  class  goods  at 
strictly  honest  i>rices.  The  living  up  to  this  repu- 
tation has  secured  for  theni  iiatronage  and  popu- 
larity. That  the  fii-ni  can  and  do  carry  a  large  line 
of  readv-made  clothing  in  >ai-k  and  frock  suits  and 


S.    K.    MKIGS. 

top  coats,  the  etpial  of  custom  made  garments  in  fit, 
style  and  workmanship,  available  for  all  classes,  at 
prices  that  are  often  less  than  <iuoted  elsewhere,  is 
made  apparent  by  the  fact  that  they  do  a  very  large 
business,  having  stores  in  fSpringfieUl,  Mass.,  Bridge- 
port and  Xew  Haven,  ('onn..  both  being  natives  of 
Madison,  Conn.  The  firm  also  cari-y  a  complete 
stock  of  fur  coats,  hats,  caps,  gloves  and  gents'  fur- 
nishings of  every  character,  together  with  trunks, 
bags,  and  traveling  ecpiipage.  Their  premises  are 
spacious,  with  ample  facilities  for  the  inspection  of 
goods,  and  patrons  are  assuivd  of  full  value  in  all 
purchases. 

Mrs.  C.  E.  Morse,  Insurance. 

One  of  the  most  enterprising  and  successful  in- 
surance agents  in  Dexter  is  Mrs.  C.  E.  Morse,  whose 
office  and  residence  is  on  Free  street.  Mrs.  Morse  is 
A  daughter  of  the  late  George  GolT,  a  former  well 


known  expressman,  and  entered  the  insurance  field 
some  four  years  ago  by  writing  life  policies,  since 
which  time  she  has  added  other  risks,  embracing  at 
present  all  classes  of  insurance,  including  fire,  life, 
accident,  boiler,  plate  glass  and  health.  Among 
the  companies  Mrs.  Morse  represents  are  the  Fire- 
men's Fund  and  Holyoke  Fire  Insurance  companies, 
United  States  Casualty  Co.,  of  New  York,  the  Gen- 
eral Accident  Co.,  of  Phila<leli)hia,  the  Union  Casu- 
alty Co.,  New  York,  all  too  well  known  to  require 
special  commendation,  and  the  Mutual  Life  Insur- 
ance Co.,  of  New  York,  one  of  the  oldest  and  strong- 
est of  life  companies,  its  assets  approximating 
t400.000,000,  with  a  surplus  of  rising  *68,000,000,  and 
insurance  and  annuities  in  force  of  nearly  a  billion 
and  a  half.  This  comjjany  did  the  largest  business 
of  any  life  company  in  the  country  in  1902,  and  has 
the  largest  amount  of  insurance  in  force,  and  the 
largest  premium  income  in  Maine.  The  insurance 
business  requires  perseverance,  tact  and  unlimited 
patience  of  its  representatives  in  order  to  be  success- 
ful. The  possession  of  these  attributes  has  devel- 
oped a  wide  field  for  Mrs.  Morse,  who  is  prejiared  at 
all  times  to  devote  her  time  and  attention  to  the 
presentation  of  facts  in  detail. 

F.  W.  Parsons. 

The  building  at  present  occupied  by  F.  W.  Par- 
sons, fronting  Main  street  and  .junctioning  Church 
and  Grove  sti-eets,  is  of  historical  renown  from  the 
fact  that  it  was  erected  in  18:15  by  Jonathan  Farrar 
and  Oram  McCrillis,  who  conducted  a  general  store 
therein  for  many  years.  Through  successive  owner- 
ships and  occupants  it  has  relegated  to  occupancy 
by  its  present  incundjent,  who  established  business 
therein  some  five  years  since,  after  having  served  in 
a  subordinate  (rapacity  in  the  same  line  for  upward 
of  twenty  years  in  Dexter.  As  a  hardware  store  Mr. 
Parsons'  establishment  is  the  equal  of  any  similar 
one  in  any  town,  his  stock  comprising  light  and 
heavy  hardware,  the  latter  including  iron  and  steel 
products  and  carriage  stock,  while  the  former  em- 
braces mechanical  sui)i)lies  in  sufficient  variety  and 
abundance  to  supply  the  mechanic  of  whatever 
grade,  inclusive  of  paints,  oils  and  varnishes,  glass 
and  putty.  A  complete  line  of  fishing  tackle,  with 
cutlery  and  small  hardware  sundries  are  to  be 
classed  as  among  the  essentials  of  this  up  to  date 
hardware  establishment,  in  addition  to  which  Mr. 
Parsons  deals  in  lime  and  cement,  with  a  store- 
house annex  for  the  accommodation  of  the  latter 
and  heavy  hardware. 

C.  M.  Sa-wyer. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Dexter 
Sept.  16th,  1846,  and  was  educated  in  its  public 
schools.     From  18().'i  until  ISfiT,  he  was  liookkeeper 


30 


THE  EASTERN  GAZETTE 


and  paymaster  of  the  Dexter  Woolen  Mills  com- 
pany, retiring  therefrom  the  latter  year  to  enter  the 
drug  business  in  company  with  Dr.  G.  B.  Clough, 
under  the  firm  title  of  Clough  &  Sawyer.  This  co- 
partnership continued  until  1873,  when  Mr.  Sawyer 
became  associated  with  W.  D.  Eaton,  under  the 
partnership  title  of  Eaton  &  Sawyer,  the  firm  con- 
ducting an  extensive  lumber  and  jiroduce  business. 
In  1878  Mr.  Sawyer  purchased  Mr.  Eaton's  interest, 
conducting  the  business  alone  until  1888,  when  he 
closed  out.     The  following  vear  he  became  cashier 


C.    M.    SAWYKH. 


of  the  First  National  bank, 
retains.     Mr.  Sawyer  has  bee 
since  1882  and  from  1886  to 
From  1867  to  1872  he  served 
been  a  trustee  of  the  Dexter 
teen   years.     He  is  secretary 
Board  of  Trustees  of  the  M. 
Penobscot  Lodge,  A.  F.  and 
Royal  Arch  chajiter,  and  a  S 
Commanderv  of  Hangor. 


which  position  he  still 
n  a  director  of  the  bank 
1889  was  its  president, 
as  town  clerk,  and  has 

town  library  for  four- 

and   treasurer   of   the 

E.  church,  a  member  of 

A.  M..  of  the  St.  John's 

ir  Knight  of  St.  John's 


Amos  A.  Springall. 

The  old  and  reliable  pharmacy  of  A.  A.  Springall, 
situated  at  34  Main  street,  was  founded  by  the  fa- 
ther of  the  present  proprietor.  Dr.  John  B.  Spring- 
all,  in  1858,  who  conducted  the  business  until  his 
death  in  1800.  Amos  A.  Springall  entered  the  busi- 
ness in  1873  as  clerk,  and  in  l.S7(!  Ijecame  part  owner, 
and  in  1896  sole  proprietor,  continuing  as  such  to  the 
present  time.  He  is  a  skillful  pharmacist  and 
makes  a  specialty  of  the  prompt  and  accurate  tilling 


of  prescriptions  from  the  purest  and  best  of  drugs. 
He  carries  a  large  stock  of  chemicals,  patent  medi- 
cines, toilet  articles,  fancy  goods,  books,  magazines 
and  papers,  and  one  can  find  almost  anything  in 
these  lines  in  this  store.  Mr.  Springall  is  one  of  the 
enterprising  ai]d  relialjle  citizens  of  Dexter  and  has 
occupied  many  positions  of  trust,  being  town  treas- 


A.MOS    A.    SPRIXaALL. 

urer  four  years  or  more,  collector  of  taxes  four 
vears  and  one  of  the  trustees  of  the  town  library  for 
ten  years  and  at  present.  He  has  been  secretary  of 
the  Loan  and  Building  association  since  its  organ- 
ization in  ISSli.  an  important  and  responsible  posi- 
tit)n.  He  is  a  member  (if  tlie  Knights  of  Pythias 
and  Royal  .Ai'cannm. 

Charles  H.  Wyman. 

Fronting  on  upper  and  lower  Main  street  is  the 
furniture  estal)lisliment  of  ('.  H.  Wyman,  the  larg- 
est and  most  completely  stocked  establishment  of 
its  kind  in  this  section.  A  large  portion  of  the  old 
buildings  were  destroyed  by  fire  last  spring  and  a 
new  and  beautiful  block  has  taken  its  place  and  is 
now  apiH'oaching  completion.  It  is  two  stories  high 
with  a  large  and  commodious  basement.  It  has  a 
front  on  lower  Main  of  47  feet  and  on  upper  Main  of 
04  feet,  all  of  which  is  lighted  on  the  first  floor  by 
large  plate  glass.  Witli  the  exception  of  one  stoi-e 
on  the  east  corner,  the  entire  building  will  be  devot- 
ed to  the  furniture  business  in  its  various  branches. 
Beside  a  large  variety  of  furniture  proper,  the  stock 
includes  bedding,  wall  paper,  shades,  carpets  and 
rugs.  With  the  facilities  on  hand  it  is  jierfectly 
safe  to  say  that  Mr.  Wyman  could  readily  fill  a  con- 
tract for  the  furnishing  of  any  domicile  with  the 
necessary  furniture  and  house  furnishings,  befitting 
every  apartment  from  basement  to  attic,  and  still 
have  something  left  over.  Regarding  burial  sup- 
plies, Mr.  Wyman  is  a   funeral  director  in  all  this 


THE  EASTERN  GAZETTE 


31 


ttTiii  iuiplies,  as  also  a  I'ractical  eiiil)aliner,  and  in 
addition  to  Imrial  supplies  of  every  character,  is 
Ijrepared  to  furnish  floral  decorations,  as  also  a 
handsome  hearse.  He  will  also  take  personal  charge 
of  all  funeral  arrangements.  Mr.  Wyman  is  a  na- 
tive of  Fairfield,  and  in  18S'2  became  an  appi-entice 
in  a  large  furniture  iiianufactui-ing  house,  serving 


rHAHLKS    H.    WYM.A^. 

therein  three  years,  with  an  additiniial  experience 
with  another  furniture  house,  acipiiring  thereby  a 
full  knowledge  of  the  business.  He  came  to  Dexter 
in  1H!I1  and  pui-ehased  the  furniture  business  of  E. 
M.  Tibbetts,  since  which  he  has  acquired  business 
and  popularity  from  a  large  constituency  in  and 
about  Dexter. 

The  Printing  Business  in  Dexter. 

The  early  history  of  the  pi-inting  Ijusiness  in  Dex- 
ter is  somewhat  obscure.  The  first  office  in  town 
was  starteil  by  Rev.  J.  F.  Witherell.  a  Univei'salist 
clergyman,  who  came  here  from  Fishersville,  N.  H.. 
and  was  known  as  the  Leviathan  Printing  Estab- 
lishment. March  19,  1853.  Mr.  Witherell  commenced 
the  publication  of  the  '"(iem."  a  small  four  page 
weekly.  A  short  time  after  it  was  changed  to  the 
'■Gem  and  Gazette."  This  was  continued  until 
March,  186;!,  when,  owing  to  poor  health,  he  sus- 
pended publication  and  his  daughter,  Caroline  F. 
Witherell,  i)ul)lished  for  one  year  a  monthly  paper 
entitled.  'The  Gem  Gazette."  Mr.  Witherell  then 
resumed  pul)lication  of  the  weekly  paper  and  con- 
tinued it  until  1870.  The  office  force,  during  the 
time  Mr.  Witherell  was  running  the  paper,  com- 
prised such  well  known  names  as  Hiram  A.  Keene, 
George  W.  Wormell,  Andrew  H.  Knight,  Electa  A. 
Bement,  Lizzie  M.  Hailey  and  John  L.  Russell. 

In  ISTit  Robbins  and  (Tallison  purchased  the  With- 
erell plant  and  starteil  the  "Dexter  Gazette."  Later 
Mr.  Robbins  [jurchased  the  interest  of  his  partner 


and  run  the  paper  alone  for  some  ,veai's.  M.  F. 
Herring  then  became  a  partner  and,  about  1879, 
bought  the  interest  of  Mr.  Robbins.  While  Mr. 
Robbins  was  connected  with  the  paper  he  was  its 
editor.  Later,  under  Mr.  Herring's  ownership,  it 
was  a  portion  of  the  time  edited  by  Mr.  Herring; 
then  by  Capt.  James  J).  Maxfield,  by  Thos.  H.  B. 
Pierce.  Es(].,  and  by  Samuel  B.  Thayer  fof  Ply- 
mouth), in  the  ordei-  mentioned.  Day  &  Bunker 
succeeded  Mr.  Herring,  Holman  F.  Day  becoming 
the  editor.  While  they  were  owners,  in  March, 
1892,  the  "Eastern  State"  was  purchased  of  Dr. 
Fitzgerald  and  consolidated  with  the  "Dexter  Ga- 
zette," the  name  beconn'ng  the  "Eastern  Gazette." 

About  1881  or  2  the  "Eastern  State"  was  started 
by  Dr.  Fitzgerald  and  for  a  time  was  managed  by  R. 
U.  Robl)ins.  He  was  succeeded  by  others  and  final- 
ly by  Thos.  H.  B.  Pierce,  Esti.,  who  was  editor  from 
1889  to  1892,  when  it  was  consolidated  with  the 
"Dexter  Gazette,"  as  above  stated. 

''Quiet  Hours  Magazine"  was  started  in  Dexter  in 
the  summer  of  1887,  by  Mrs.  Fannie  B.  Damon  and 
Mrs.  Mary  V.  Pierce,  who  were  its  editors.  This 
was  just  before  the  great  i-eduction  of  magazine 
prices,  started  l>y  Munsey's  in  1888.  Its  price  was 
one  dollar  a  year.  It  was  illustrated  to  a  limited 
extent  and  won  considerable  favor  with  the  public. 
It  had  some  contributors  of  national  reputation, 
and  maintained  a  high  order  of  merit.  In  1890  it  was 
consolidated  with  the  "Eastern  State,"  then  edited 
by  Mr.  Pierce.  It  had  a  steadily  increasing  number 
of  subscribers,  located  in  every  state  in  the  union: 
l)ut  the  low  price  at  which  some  of  the  standard 


GEORGK    C.    FT'RBER. 


33 


THE  EASTERN  GAZETTE 


magazines  were  then  sold,  made  the  outlook  dis- 
couraging and  it  was  thought  prudent  to  dispose 
of  it. 

After  the  consolidation  the  "Eastern  Gazette" 
was  owned  and  managed  by  Day,  Hunker  &  Lane, 
then  by  Day,  Bunker  &  Warren,  then  Bunker  and 
Warren.  Ladd  Brothers  acquired  the  paper  in  18115 
and  run  the  ])roperty  until  18!I7,  when  W.  S.  Ladd 
acquired  the  interest  of  his  brother  and  continued 
sole  owner  until  May  1,  IflOI,  when  he  sold  to  George 
C.  Furber,  the  present  i)roprietor. 

The  brief  sketch  given  above  gives  but  a  faint  idea 
of  the  development  of  the  present  paper  and  busi- 
ness. At  present  the  "Eastern  Gazette"  is  an  eight 
page  paper  with  seven  columns  to  the  page  and  con- 
tains a  weekly  history  of  the  thriving  section  in- 
cluded in  Dexter  and  the  suri-ounding  territory. 
The  office  is  well  equipped  with  the  best  of  type, 
presses  and  all  that  goes  to  make  up  a  well  appoint- 
ed  printing  establi.shment.     The   best   of   work   is 


done,  as  is  shown  by  the  constantly  increasing 
amount  turned  out,  giving  the  best  of  satisfaction. 
George  C.  Furber,  the  present  editor  and  propri- 
etor of  the  "Eastern  Gazette,"  was  born  in  Wood- 
stock, Vt.,  April  27,  1847.  His  education  was  ob- 
tained in  the  common  schools  and  academy  and  a 
course  in  Eastman's  Business  college.  Purchasing 
an  interest  in  the  "Allegan  County  (Mich.)  Demo- 
crat" in  1870,  he  remained  with  that  paper  four 
years,  acquiring  a  thorough  knowledge  of  the  busi- 
ness. In  1874  he  purchased  the  "White  Mountain 
Republic,"  of  Littleton.  N.  H.,  and  published  it  un- 
til 1880.  when  he  consolidated  it  with  the  "Littleton 
.Journal"  under  the  name  of  the  "Republic-Jour- 
nal." In  1S!)()  he  sold  out,  owing  to  poor  health, 
and  for  several  years  was  not  actively  engaged  in 
business,  with  the  exceiition  of  one  year  when  he 
was  business  manager  of  the  "Patriot"  office  in 
Concord,  N.  H.  May  1.  Itllil,  he  purchased  the 
"Eastern  Gazette." 


DirigO   Hose   Co.    No.   4.  tral   building.     The   present   membership  is;  A.  C. 

Grant,  Captain;  A.  L.  Sanford,  1st  Lieutenant;  Mell 

This  company  wa-;  organized  May  !J,  1898,  under       Shaw,  2nd  Lieutenant;  George   Hall,  .Jr.,   Butman; 

the  name  of  Independent  Hose  Co.,  Jso.  4,  but  the       C.   F.   Bean,  1st  Assistant   Butman;  Charles  Brews- 


title  was  changed  from  Independent  to  Dirigo  .June 
■5,  189!).  Its  headquarters  have  alwaj-s  been  on  Grove 
street,  near  the  mill  of  the  Amos  A))bott  Co.,  but 
it  is  expected  they  will  soon  be  changed  to  the  cen- 


ter, 2nd  Assistant  Butman;  W.  G.  Jackson,  4th  Pipe- 
man;  Willis  G.  Haseltine,  Clerk;  A.  H.  Bridgham, 
Steward;  E.  H.  Bragdon,  John  Caswell,  Paul  Came, 
Frank  Mason,  Hosemen. 


3477«61 


F 


THE  SHORT  LINE 


1 


...AND... 


DIRECT  ROUTE 

BETWEEN 

Dover,  Foxcroft,  Dexter 


■AND- 


Portland  and  Boston 


IS  VIA.  THE 


Maine  Central  Railroad 


through  Newport  and  Waterville,  thence  along  the  Kennebec  River  through 
Augusta,  Hallowell,  Gardiner  and  Brunswick,  connecting  for  Skowhegan, 
Bath  and  Rockland,  or  via.  the  "back  road"  through  Oakland,  Winthrop  and 
Lewiston,  connecting  for  Farmington,  Rangeley  Lakes,  Rumford  Falls  and 
Bemis;  and  at  Danville  Junction  with  stages  for  Poland  Springs.  At  Portland 
connection  is  made  with  THROUGH  TRAINS  TO   MONTREAL  and 

QUEBEC  via.  the  GRAND  SCENERY  of  the  WHITE  MOUNTAINS 


The  Maine  Central  R.  R.  I'r  '";  ™^°"^" 

^^— — _^_^^— ^-^^_^.^_^___^_^^_^  L>AK — (^uick  Service  Line 
to  Bangor,  Ellsworth,  Bar  Harbor,  Eastport,  Calais,  and  via.  Enfield,  Dan- 
forth  and  Vanceboro  to  St.  Stephen,  St.  John,  Aroostook  County  and  the 
Maritine  Provinces. 


GEO.  F.  EVANS, 

Vice  Pres.  and  Gen.  Mgr. 


F.  E.  BOOTHBY, 

Gen.  Pass,  and  Ticket  Agt. 


GENERAL  OFFICES:  PORTLAND,  MAINE. 


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